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FDA Approves Gene Therapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

posted by martyb on Saturday October 21 2017, @12:09AM   Printer-friendly
from the a-third-chance-at-life dept.

takyon writes:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a gene therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (blood cancer):

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the second in a radically new class of treatments that genetically reboot a patient's own immune cells to kill cancer.

The new therapy, Yescarta, made by Kite Pharma, was approved for adults with aggressive forms of a blood cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who have undergone two regimens of chemotherapy that failed.

The treatment, considered a form of gene therapy, transforms the patient's cells into what researchers call a "living drug" that attacks cancer cells. It is part of the rapidly growing field of immunotherapy, which uses drugs or genetic tinkering to turbocharge the immune system to fight disease. In some cases the treatments have led to long remissions.

"The results are pretty remarkable," said Dr. Frederick L. Locke, a specialist in blood cancers at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, and a leader of a study of the new treatment. "We're excited. We think there are many patients who may need this therapy."

He added, "These patients don't have other options."

About 3,500 people a year in the United States may be candidates for Yescarta. It is meant to be given once, infused into a vein, and must be manufactured individually for each patient. The cost will be $373,000.

Also at The Associated Press, CNN, and STAT News.

Previously: FDA Approves a Gene Therapy for the First Time
FDA Committee Endorses Gene Therapy for a Form of Childhood Blindness

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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 21 2017, @05:10AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 21 2017, @05:10AM (#585568)

    so... whats better then..

    Say there is just one big insurance company.

    6000 patients/year die from NHL. say this treatment is 100% effective. thats $240 million.

    Compare with Harvoni (hepatitis vaccine), at ~$120k. its only ~70% effective, but lets say its also 100% effective...
    so same cost treats about 20000 patients...

    so the insurance company has to make some choices.

    source: work for health insurance co. NO insurance co can pay for everyone in its coverage who can/should get Harvoni.

    thats just one treatment.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 21 2017, @05:14AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 21 2017, @05:14AM (#585570)

    sorry... $2.4 billion.