New drug is a lower cost alternative to stem cell transplants
|
A new drug has been launched that prevents relapse and maintains remission of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Ceplene costs around £3,500 per cycle of treatment and research suggests that the drug can greatly benefit acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) sufferers under the age of 60.
Presented at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, the study has shown that rates of relapse long term were significantly reduced in the clinical trial of 320 leukaemia patients.
It has been standard practise for AML patients in remission to undergo no follow up treatment and wait to see if a relapse occurs.
However, patients given Ceplene after their course of chemotherapy have demonstrated prolonged remission periods.
There has long been an urgent medial need for maintenance therapy for those in remission. Stem cell transplants have been option for some patients however the costly procedure is very limited on the NHS. The launch of Ceplene offers a lower cost alternative.
The self-administered drug is injected and rapidly absorbed into the body. Ceplene works by facilitating the anti-leukaemic functions of lymphocytes. This allows the natural killer cells and T cells in the immune system to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
By Jade Desumala
| 
Win two anti-ageing beauty products by Judith Williams!