A new cancer drug Venetoclax touted as ‘wonder drug’ as it ‘melts away cancer cells’, discovered by Melbourne scientists has got government approval.
The drug which is in form of a tablet got approval from Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and will be available to patients who have not responded to standard treatments, or for those who have not been able to undergo other therapies, such as chemotherapy.
The drug was developed by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research based in Melbourne.
Laboratory head Professor David Huang told SBS the drug works by targeting the over-active protein known as BCL-2, which enables cancer cells to grow.
“Essentially it's designed to trigger the cancer cells to commit cell-suicide,” he said.
Haematologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Dr Mary Ann Anderson, said the effectiveness of the drug exceeded all expectations.
“The first patient in the world, had a football [sized tumour], underneath his arm. Within a week, it was a golf ball, and within a month, we couldn't feel anything.”
The hard-to-treat cancer, Leukaemia affects about 1300 Australians a year.
The drug, Venetoclax was trialled on a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia patient, 65-year-old John Higham for three years and he told SBS News, “To me, it's a miracle. I mean, I'm agnostic, but to me, it's a miracle. My life's been saved by this drug.”
Following the successful trial, Venetoclax has now been granted approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
It was approved for use in the US in April last year, and in December, the EU approved it too.
It's a milestone for the Melbourne researchers who've been developing the drug for over 28 years.
“As a basic scientist, what you dream of, is that what you do, and your work on the bench, will make a difference for patients,” said Professor Huang.
The next step is having Venetoclax listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS), subsidising it so that it's not cost-prohibitive for patients.
That process is already underway, and a decision could be made in the next few months.
