The following information is obtained from various newswires,
published medical journal articles, and medical conference presentations.
Company: DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company
Approval Status: Approved March 1997
Treatment for: pain associated with bone cancer
General Information
Quadramet (Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam Injection) has been approved to treat the severe pain associated with cancers that have spread to bone. It is indicated for relief of pain in patients with confirmed osteoblastic metastatic bone lesions that enhance on radionuclide bone scan.
This condition is most often experienced by patients with prostate, breast or lung cancers that have spread to the bone. Quadramet is a radiopharmaceutical that may be administered as a single intravenous injection on an outpatient basis.
Mechanism of Action
Clinical studies show that Quadramet targets the sites of new bone formation, concentrating in regions of the bone that have been invaded with metastatic tumor. The drug goes to the source of cancer bone pain and irradiates the osteoblastic tumor sites resulting in relief of pain. The onset of pain relief was experienced as early as one week in the majority of patients.
Additional Information
Estimates, including those from the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute, show that over 200,000 patients annually in the United States will experience severe, chronic pain associated with bone metastases.
