Repurposing Old Drugs for New Treatment

Often, people with mesothelioma have contracted it from an environment at work. Currently, the prognosis for mesothelioma patients is quite low, with a median survival rate of nine to seventeen months after a diagnosis.

Using Existing Drugs for New Treatments

A researcher who works in Italy, Maryland, and Hawaii also works right here in Philadelphia at Temple University. He and his team recently came upon a new discovery, which shows some promise.  A drug which was previously approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for infections related to the pinworm parasite may hold new possibilities. This would be a new use for an old drug, named pyrvinium pamoate, which was first used over fifty years ago to effectively treat parasites in humans, with no side effects.

The drug has also shown some positive outcomes in treating pancreatic and breast cancer. It works by inhibiting a particular gene that encourages the growth of mesothelioma. Since the body itself encourages growth of the disease, it is more resistant to chemotherapy.  Since mesothelioma proliferates by the expression of this gene, it also makes the disease very aggressive.

Finding a new use for this old drug is a major breakthrough for mesothelioma patients, because it significantly decreases the amount of time it takes for the drug to get to patients. The development of an entirely new drug usually requires many years of studies, and a lot of money invested. The researchers who are working on using this drug for mesothelioma stated that this drug was like a bridge over the gap between trials for drug effectiveness, to actually getting on the market for patients.

For Example: although many people have heard of immunotherapy as a new and cutting-edge method to treat cancer, it is not getting to patients quickly, since many forms of immunotherapy are still in trials and awaiting approval by the FDA. Immunotherapy, although it has been found to be effective in some patients, and for some types of cancers, currently has overall inconsistent results among patients.

Minimal Side Effects Is Encouraging to Patients

Pyrvinium pamoate is part of a class of medications called anthelmintics, which expels parasitic worms from the body without having other damaging effects. The key to this type of development is treating mesothelioma on a molecular and genetic level in the body. It is unlike chemotherapy, since there are far less side effects than those associated with chemotherapy.

Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers Can Assist in Bringing Claims Against Entities Responsible for Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma can be a fast-acting and painful disease. If you have been affected by an asbestos-related disease, the Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler have represented mesothelioma patients and others experiencing asbestos-related illnesses. Let us assist you in obtaining the compensation you need and deserve. We are centrally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we proudly serve clients from the surrounding areas. To set up a free initial consultation, complete our online form or call us at 215-569-4000 today.