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`BREAST CANCER DRUG TARGETS TUMOR CELLS, SPARES
`HEALTHY ONES
`
`February 22, 2013 12:00:00 AM PST
`
`The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new breast cancer drug that targets
`WASHINGTON --
`tumor cells while sparing healthy ones.
`The first-of-its-kind drug, called Kadcyla from Roche, combines the established drug Herceptin with a
`powerful chemotherapy drug and a third chemical that links the two medicines together. That chemical keeps
`the mixture intact until it binds to a cancer cell, delivering a strong dose of anti-tumor poison.
`
`Researchers say the drug is a crucial step forward, since it delivers more medication while reducing the
`unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy.
`
`Dr. Melody Cobleigh of Rush University Medical Center says the new drug seeks out tumor cells, gets
`internalized and explodes from within.
`
`"It's a revolutionary way of treating cancer," said Cobleigh, who helped conduct the key studies of the drug at
`the Chicago facility.
`
`The FDA approved the new drug for about 20 percent of breast cancer patients with a more aggressive form
`of the disease that is typically less responsive to hormone therapy.
`
`According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer in U.S.
`women, and is expected to kill more than 39,000 Americans this year.
`
`Roche's Genentech said Friday that Kadcyla will cost $9,800 per month, compared to $4,500 per month for
`regular Herceptin. The company estimates a full course of Kadcyla, about nine months of medicine, will cost
`$94,000.
`
`The FDA said it approved the drug based on company studies showing Kadcyla delayed the progression of
`breast cancer by several months. Overall, patients taking Kadcyla lived about 2.6 years, compared with 2
`years for patients taking the other drugs.
`
`Kadcyla will carry a boxed warning, the most severe type, alerting doctors and patients that the drug can
`cause liver toxicity, heart problems and potentially death. The drug can also cause severe birth defects and
`should not be used by pregnant women.
`
`The Associated Press contributed to this report.
`
`Map My News
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`IMMUNOGEN 2022, pg. 1
`Phigenix v. Immunogen
`IPR2014-00676
`
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`IMMUNOGEN 2022, pg. 2
`Phigenix v. Immunogen
`IPR2014-00676
`
`