The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug named Pomalyst (pomalidomide) for patients who received and did not respond to prior cancer therapies.
Pomalyst, the third drug in a class of immunomodulatory agents including lenalidomide and thalidomide, adjusts immune system of the body to destroy and inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
The drug is indicated for patients in whom the disease progressed within 60 days of the previous treatment.
FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Hematology and Oncology Products Office director Richard Pazdur said Pomalyst is the second multiple myeloma drug approved in the past year.
"Treatment for multiple myeloma is tailored to meet individual patient's needs, and today's approval provides an additional treatment option for patients who have not responded to other drugs," Pazdur added.
Celgene, based in New Jersey, US, is marketing Pomalyst, lenalidomide and thalidomide.
