Drugs/Therapy

New Cancer Drug Ribociclib: Possible Treatment For Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients [VIDEO]

By Alleah Kiamco | Update Date: Mar 14, 2017 10:18 AM EDT

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new breast cancer medicine called Kisqali, chemically known as Ribociclib, as an initial treatment for women on postmenopausal stages with Metastatic Breast Cancer. With Kisqali's release, Novartis is in close competition with Pfizer's Ibrance that also has the same function of the new drug.

On Monday, U.S. Health Regulators approved Novartis G's new drug development for the treatment of Stage IV, Advanced Breast Cancer. The pill slows down the spread of cancer cells in the body by blocking HR+/HER2- proteins which are responsible for the division and stimulation of the growth of cancer cells. As of the time being, there is still no data representation on how many U.S. patients are exactly experiencing this type but it has confirmed that the formulation of the new drug is a result of the growing number of breast cancer patients, The Detroit News reports.

In an article released by the Nasdaq, Dr. Vas Narashiman, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Drug Development at Novartis said, that this new breast cancer drug is beneficial for those patients who doesn't have a lot of choices on how to treat their worsening condition.

The new drug is taken daily together with Letrozole or other Aromatase Inhibitor medicines for three weeks followed with a one-week break. The drug is quite expensive with prices varying on its corresponding doses. A 600-milligram pill (strongest dose) is $10,950 for a bottle containing 21 pills; a 400-milligram dose is at $8,760; and a dose of 200-milligram is at $4,380, according to a price list update released by the Novartis Pharmaceutical Company. Although its prices are ranged this way, Novartis said that they will offer financial assistance to their patients under insurance claims and brackets.

A clinical trial conducted by Novartis on 668 women verified that using Kisqali and Letrozole together, reduced the risk of death and worsening of the cancer condition by 44 percent as opposed to those who are only using Letrozole. The new breast cancer drug is prohibited for pregnant and lactating patients.

Health Associations are still in the move of testing various combinations for Kisqali that might aid those who are in the bouts of advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer.

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