Posted by Michael Wonder on 20 Sep 2018
Drug treatment for rare blood cancer will save more lives
20 September 2018 - A drug aimed at treating an aggressive disease that affects the blood and bone marrow is set to save more lives, with the medication now available for more patients on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
People who suffer from chronic myeloid leukaemia can access Iclusig, also known as ponatinib. As of this month it is now available to all Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients, who are intolerant or resistant to other therapies.
The rare condition develops when the body produces too many of the white blood cells known as granulocytes. As cells grow, they gradually crowd bone marrow, interfering with normal blood cell production and become ineffective in fighting infections.
