The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of the drug Kisqali, originally used for metastatic breast cancer, to also treat earlier stages of the disease. This means that thousands of women with early-stage breast cancer now have access to a medication that can help prevent their cancer from returning. In a phase 3 clinical trial, Kisqali reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence by 25% after three years and by 28.5% after four years. The drug is specifically approved for HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in stages two and three, where the cancer has not spread beyond the breast or nearby lymph nodes.
The expansion of approval comes at a time when breast cancer rates are increasing in younger women. The drug Kisqali is expected to be more widely available and potentially less aggressive than other drugs in the same class. Despite the cost of the treatment, the expanded approval is likely to make it more accessible to patients through insurance coverage.
One patient, Nikki Odum, who participated in a clinical trial for Kisqali after being diagnosed at 36 years old, found the medication provided her with peace of mind. While the long-term effects of Kisqali on breast cancer recurrence are still being studied, the option of using the medication is seen as a valuable tool in helping patients take control of their health and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
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