A new cancer treatment, dostarlimab (Jemperli), has received landmark approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, marking a significant step forward in treating locally advanced rectal cancer. The Breakthrough Therapy Designation status indicates that the drug is being fast-tracked for development, potentially making it available to patients three years sooner than non-breakthrough treatments.
The treatment showed remarkable results in clinical trials, eradicating tumors without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy in all 42 participants who completed treatment. The FDA designation is a rare achievement, granted only when no comparable treatment exists. Dostarlimab’s success rate remains at 100%, with patients remaining cancer-free for up to four years.
This approval could change the treatment paradigm for rectal cancer patients, who often face negative outcomes and quality-of-life effects with current treatments. With further testing and accelerated review, Jemperli may soon be available to those in need.
Source: https://newatlas.com/cancer/cancer-drug-fda-approval/