Cancer is a diagnosis that everyone dreads hearing, and so far, there have been very few treatments approved by the FDA. Luckily, a new treatment has just been approved and it is one of a kind.The new drug has been shown to treat over a dozen different cancers based on a common gene rather than where the tumor is located, making the drug a one-of-a-kind pharmaceutical.

The oral drug, Larotrectinib, was tested in adult and pediatric cancers that have yet to have successful treatments, and it is only the second medication approved by the FDA to treat cancer based on a genetic trait. It is the first medication that targets the NTRK gene that is produced in several forms of adult and pediatric cancer. The NTRK gene attaches to another gene in a process called fusion.

When this happens, it causes the cells to grow rapidly. NTRK fusions are not common, but can occur in the lungs, salivary glands, breast, and thyroid, as well as soft tissue.

The study of the new medication took place on 55 adult and pediatric patients that displayed the NTRK gene fusion. It had a 75 percent response rate with 73 percent of those responses lasting at least six months.

The most common adverse reactions to the drug were neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, but these were mild in over 90 percent of the patients. In another study that focused on just pediatric patients, the success rate was 93 percent and none of the patients had to drop out due to side effects.

The FDA says this approval is an important shift in the treatment of cancers and this type of program would not have been possible years ago because scientists knew so much less about cancer mutations.

The drug is being marketed by Bayer with the brand name Vitrakvi and the wholesale cost is $32,800 for a 30 day supply. However, the company is dedicated to ensure that every patient who needs the drug will have affordable access.

The company insists that insurance companies will pay the cost with patients having only $20 or less out of pocket, but if insurance is an issue, Bayer will help provide the medication while insurance issues are worked out.

If all other efforts fail, Bayer has set up a charity that will provide the drug free of charge. Bayer has also made a commitment that if the drug doesn’t work within 90 days they will refund the cost of the medication to the insurance or government program.

It sounds like to me that this is definitely a step in the right direction. What do you think? Be sure to share this story with your family and friends. We all know someone that is battling cancer.