Brayton Purcell LLP

Call For A Free Consultation
800-598-0314

Call For A Free Consultation 800-598-0314

Brayton Purcell LLP
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • Our Beliefs
      • Giving Back
      • Our Associations And Memberships
      • The Right To Trial By Jury
    • Regions Served
    • Careers
    • Our Employees Pets
    • Press Releases
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Mesothelioma/Asbestos
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
    • Toxic Substances
    • Estate Planning
    • Other Areas Of Practice
  • Court Successes
    • Trial Verdicts
    • Appeals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • Our Beliefs
      • Giving Back
      • Our Associations And Memberships
      • The Right To Trial By Jury
    • Regions Served
    • Careers
    • Our Employees Pets
    • Press Releases
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Mesothelioma/Asbestos
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
    • Toxic Substances
    • Estate Planning
    • Other Areas Of Practice
  • Court Successes
    • Trial Verdicts
    • Appeals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Contact

Mesothelioma treatment regimen approved by the FDA

by Brayton Purcell LLP | Nov 10, 2020 | Mesothelioma

medication and a thermometer

Good news may be in store for those who have mesothelioma. After a 16-year wait, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a treatment option to combat the long-term effects of asbestos exposure.

While surgery can often remove cancerous tissue from a patient’s body, invasive procedures aren’t a commonly accepted approach in terms of mitigating the risk of embedded asbestos fibers. However, what kind of results might the new treatment present?

Treatment, but not without tradeoffs

The combination of Opdivo and Yervoy is only the second FDA-approved therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. This may increase optimism despite the previous oncological approach to the disease, which resulted in dismal survival rates.

Asbestos exposure results in roughly 20,000 cancer diagnoses per year across the United States. Hopes are high that this drug therapy combination will decrease the growth of inoperable tumors. Yet, it may be too soon to say whether its use will significantly increase life expectancy.

In a two-year trial involving 605 patients, survival increased by a median of four months over that of those who received chemotherapy. As is the case with treatment for most life-threatening diseases, this regimen also presented unfavorable side effects.

Diarrhea and fatigue may be minor complaints, compared to a potential inflammation of healthy organs. Serious reactions may include:

  • Hepatitis
  • Colitis
  • Endocrinopathy

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, both drugs approved to treat cancer in the lung lining have known indications of breathing problems.

Pre-existing liver or immune system complications could also raise concerns. Providers should be aware of pregnancy or organ transplants before beginning treatment as well.

American necessity overrides global hesitation

Regulatory organizations from Canada, Brazil, Switzerland and Australia joined forces with the FDA’s review of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company’s treatment. While approved ahead of schedule in the U.S., international approvals remain in flux.

The new treatment regimen has the potential to create additional risks, especially on the heels of the coronavirus. Yet, with more than 45,000 American lives lost due to the disease between 1999 and 2015, it may be the best approach currently available.

 

 

Recent Posts

  • Who is Most at Risk of Mesothelioma?
  • Boiler Room Workers and Asbestos Exposure
  • Mitigating the financial impact of mesothelioma treatments
  • The EPA’s difficulty with data disclosure
  • Judge orders EPA to close loopholes on asbestos-related reporting

Archives

Categories

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

Free Consultation

Take The First Step In Resolving Your Issue. Send Us An Email.

Email Us For A Response

San Francisco
Bay Area Office

222 Rush Landing Road Novato, CA 94945

Novato Office
222 Rush Landing Road
Novato, CA 94945
Toll Free: 800-598-0314
Phone: 415-898-1555
Fax: 415-898-1247

Map & Directions

Southern California
Office

12 28th Street Venice, California 90291

Los Angeles Office
12 28th Street
Venice, California 90291
Toll Free: 800-598-0314
Phone: 415-898-1555
Fax: 415-898-1247

Map & Directions
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

© 2021 Brayton Purcell LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters

Review Us