By Emily Miller
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Cyramza to treat patients with advanced stomach cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer located in the region where the esophagus joins the stomach.
Stomach cancer forms in the tissues lining the stomach and mostly affects older adults. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 22,220 Americans will be diagnosed with stomach cancer and 10,990 will die from the disease, this year.
Cyramza is an inhibitor that blocks the blood supply to tumors. According to the FDA, it is intended for patients whose cancer cannot be surgically removed or has spread after being treated with therapy.
“Although the rates of stomach cancer in the United States have decreased over the past 40 years, patients require new treatment options, particularly when they no longer respond to other therapies,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Cyramza is new treatment option that has demonstrated an ability to extend patients’ lives and slow tumor growth.”
The safety and effectiveness of the new drug was evaluated in a clinical trial of 355 participants with stomach cancer. The trial was designed to measure the length of time participants lived before death.
Results showed participants treated with Cyramza experienced a median overall survival of 5.2 months compared to 3.8 months in participants receiving placebo. Common side effects experienced by Cyramza-treated participants during clinical testing include diarrhea and high blood pressure.
Like any new medication, consult with your physician before taking Cyramza to see if the drug fits your medical and insurance needs.
