Evoltra drug improves survival rates in leukemia

Treating patients with multiple relapsed, or refractory leukemia is very difficult with only low response rates to existing treatment options and a poor prognosis with median survival of approximately nine to 10 weeks.

Evoltra managed to extend survival rates in some of the patients. Evoltra achieved a notable survival advantage, with a current median survival of 37.4 weeks in responding patients compared to 9.4 weeks in non-responding patients.

“The overall remission rate seen in this study is exceptional in such a difficult to treat group of patients who have failed other currently available treatments. Evoltra achieves durable responses with a notable survival advantage for the responders,” commented Dr Pamela Kearns, Senior Lecturer in Pediatric Oncology, Bristol University.

“The majority of patients who received a transplant after responding to Evoltra are still alive, one is alive three years post transplant,” commented Dr Rupert Handgretinger one of the transplant specialists in the study.

Evoltra was granted European marketing authorization by the European Commission in May 2006 and is available in all 25 member states of the European Union.