FDA OKs Genzyme Drug for Leukemia

U.S. regulators said they approved a new cancer drug from Genzyme Corp. for treating a type of childhood leukemia after other therapies have failed.

In a statement, the Food and Drug Administration said it approved the drug, Clolar, for treating patients ages 1 to 21 with cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia that have progressed after at least two previous cancer-fighting regimens.

Clolar was studied as a therapy for severe childhood cases of that illness as well as another blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia. But a FDA advisory panel ruled this month that data were lacking on the benefits of Clolar therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

From Reuters

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