Novartis says it has developed a groundbreaking new leukemia treatment. 82% of leukemia patients went into remission after receiving this experimental treatment. The patients were treated with modified immune cells.
Researchers say the treatment involves genetically altering a patients white blood cells and then infusing them back into their blood stream.
Scientists reported phenomenal results with 41 of the 50 patients disease free after three months. A further 60% of the patients were relapse free after six months.
Patients with leukemia experience a high level of toxic build up as a result of a compromised immune system. A quarter of the patients experienced delirium as a result of this. However, thankfully none of the patients died during the study as a result of this.
Dr Stephan Grupp is the Novartis trial’s lead investigator and director of the cancer immunotherapy program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He says:
“We have learned that the patients who come in with more leukemia in their body have a much higher risk of getting sick.”
He says the trial does not show a big difference between patients who have stopped responding to treatment. And patients who have relapsed.
So Novartis will be filing for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug early next year.
Leukemia In A Nutshell
According to MedicineNet, Leukemia is:
- A cancer of blood cells.
- Sometimes referred to as blood cancer.
- While the exact cause of leukemia is not known, risk factors have been identified, including radiation exposure and exposure to benzene.
- Common symptoms of chronic or acute leukemia may include
- pain in the bones or joints,
- swollen lymph nodes that usually don’t hurt,
- fevers or night sweats,
- feeling weak or tired,
- bleeding and bruising easily,
- frequent infections,
- discomfort or swelling in the abdomen,
- weight loss or loss of appetite.