There is good reason for guarded optimism among men with advanced prostate cancer. Over the last 2 years we have seen some significant movement with the development of new drugs and treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer. All of these drugs have demonstrated a survival advantage in their clinical trials. Each of the agents [...]
In anticipation of our Monday night teleconference on Provenge (see below for registration procedures) I am very happy to report that Dendreon is now detailing plans to move Provenge to earlier stages in the disease’s progress. At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago which is winding down today, Dendreon unveiled plans [...]
Malecare Cancer Support's Advanced Prostate Cancer Program invites you to our teleconference on Provenge. The Teleconference will begin 6PM EDT, Monday, June 13, 2011. Please register at http://bit.ly/kKuByH Call in number and code will be emailed to you, along with info on how to ask your specific question of our guest. The teleconference will be [...]
Over the last year or so we have seen a marked change in the treatment landscape for men with castrate resistant advanced prostate cancer. The FDA has approved sipuleucel-T (Provenge), cabazitaxel (Jevtana) and last week it also approved abiraterone (Zytiga). This changed landscape of multiple treatment options creates new problems, of course good problems. Prostate [...]
The battle to make sure that Provenge is available nationally (in the United States) to all men who meet the FDA approval requirements is continuing. We have made great steps through the “noise” that the community has made to date. We have successfully reached, what I believe is, the final step in insuring that Provenge [...]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CME) decided to review their policies pertaining to paying for Provenge, which costs $93,000 per man. Since the hearings which were held a number of months ago, we have not heard any feedback. Despite this, most of the regions have been paying for the treatment, however there have [...]
Malecare has an on-line support group for men with advanced prostate cancer; their loved ones and caretakers. Today, there was a post on the support group where one of the participants shared their recent experience with Provenge, including some very specific recommendations for anyone else thinking of having the treatment. You can join us by [...]
Malecare is pleased to announce several new enhancements to our Advanced Prostate Cancer Program as well as the release of our new Advanced Prostate Cancer Kit which includes our newest publication: RECURRENT PROSTATE CANCER A Working Document for Men with Recurrent Prostate Cancer For many years, Malecare has been the leader in the fight against [...]
In order to get FDA approval, drugs must first go through a clinical trial that demonstrates that they offer a better treatment result than the current standard of care. In some instances the better result can be a demonstration that the investigational drug provides an advantage which is only palliative (as Mitoxantrone does for advance [...]
Today, I spent most of the day listening to the CME (Medicare & Medicaid) hearing on Provenge. CME does not have to abide to the decisions of the advisory committee, so like we experienced with the FDA Advisory Committees we will have to wait and see what will eventually become the policy for reimbursement. I [...]
