November 10, 2014 – The experimental drug amatuximab has shown promising results in treating pleural mesothelioma patients. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute reported that the addition of amatuximab to traditional mesothelioma chemotherapy stopped mesothelioma tumor growth or shrank tumors in 90% of patients participating in a Phase II trial of this orphan drug. Amatuximab also appeared to extend survival among the 89 patients who received the drug in this trial.
Typically victims of asbestos cancer survive for less than one year following their diagnosis; however, researchers found that patients who received amatuximab had a median survival of 14.8 months. At the conclusion of the trial more than 30% of the patients were still living, and some were experiencing positive results from continued amatuximab treatment.
Amatuximab acts by binding to mesothelin on the surface of mesothelioma cells which prevents the cancer cells from attaching to other parts of the body and forming new tumors. Amatuximab also triggers the body’s immune system to fight tumors.
Amatuximab received orphan drug status from the FDA in 2012. Orphan drug status is granted to promising experimental medications for rare diseases such as mesothelioma in an effort to improve the safety and effectiveness of patient treatment.
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Shein Law Represent Victims of Asbestos Cancer and Their Families
The Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law are hopeful that this promising new mesothelioma treatment will soon be widely available to patients suffering from asbestos-related cancer. We understand how devastating a mesothelioma diagnosis can be to individuals and their families. Our compassionate attorneys fight to obtain compensation for our clients who have developed cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to collect damages from those responsible for your illness. For a free consultation to find out more about how Shein Law can help you, contact us online or call 1-877-SHEINLAW. Our offices are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pennsauken, New Jersey.