FDA approves first drug to treat rare adrenal cancer
Pharmaphorum Media Limited | August 01, 2018
Azedra has received FDA approval to become the first and only treatment for a type of rare adrenal cancer. Progenics Pharmaceuticals shares soared after its drug Azedra, a new version of the radiopharmaceutical injectable drug iobenguane I-131, was given the green light by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The treatment is for patients aged 12 and older who have tumors of the adrenal gland that is unresectable – which means they cannot be surgically removed – and that are metastatic. These uncommon neuroendocrine tumors of the adrenal glands are known as pheochromocytomas. They increase the production of epinephrines and norepinephrines, leading to hypertension and symptoms such as headaches, irritability, sweating, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, weakness, chest pain, and anxiety.