A few weeks during a devistating manufactoring problem and eventual shut down of all production many men who were relying on Xofigo (radium-233 dichloride) were put into the untenable position of missing their scheduled doses. There was mass confusion about what to do in this circumstance. Men and their doctors didn't know if they should [...]
As of January 1, 2015 there will be some significant changes in the billing and reimbursement schedule for men receiving Bayer healthcare’s radium Ra223 dichloride (Xofigo). Xofigo is FDA approved for the treatment of men with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastatic disease. These changes result [...]
On Dec 2, 2014 Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted a variation that amends their marketing authorization for enzalutamide (Xtandi). Based on this amended authorization Xtandi is now approved in Europe for the treatment of adult men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic [...]
There has been much conversation surrounding the use of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) as opposed to continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) in men with prostate cancer who need hormone therapy (ADT). The question that has been at issue is if either method is superior to the other. There have been studies that have concluded that they [...]
There are a number of different flavors of hormone therapy (ADT) used to treat advanced prostate cancer. However, they could be summed up and put into two different categories. 1- The use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy (drugs like Lupron and Zoladex) along with short term antiandrogen (AA) flare protection 2- Degarelix, a [...]
Yes, it is true, many clinical trial results are not published, especially negative results. This is even true for FDA approved drugs and treatments! Failing to publish, or actually hiding negative results and harmful side effects that occur in clinical trials is too common and jeopardizes each and everyone of us, including survivors of advanced [...]
Over this past week I have not been able to make any post to the blog. I apologize to anybody kept coming back to the blog and didn't see anything new. Two Sunday nights ago I was admitted to the hospital and had an emergency appendectomy the following Tuesday night. Due to my age and [...]
It was announced this morning that Dendreon (the manufactures of Provenge) has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. After having spoken with a representative at Dendreon I have learned that the company has been in negotiations with its creditors and agreed to voluntarily file for financial reorganization. The agreement that Dendreon has reached with their [...]
Sometimes scientific research is amazing! We are so lucky to have so many brilliant and gifted young people interested in conquering cancer. One of these brilliant young people is a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins, Andrew Wong. Mr Wong is a Ph.D. student studying materials science and engineering. Along with his facility advisor he has [...]
A large number of the readers of this blog either have had exposure to Agent Orange or have family members who have had the exposure. We know that for those men exposed their risks for developing prostate cancer are greatly increased. Besides an increased risk of developing the cancer there is evidence that Agent Orange [...]
