THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100396
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug made of microscopic fat bubbles Tuesday to treat Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer that strikes mostly AIDS patients.
Studies show DaunoXome is as effective as the current three-drug treatment for Kaposi's but causes fewer serious side effects, said manufacturer NeXstar Pharmaceuticals of Boulder, Colo.
DaunoXome is one example of an emerging type of medicine called liposomal drugs. Liposomes are microscopic fat bubbles used to coat highly toxic medicines. Scientists believe the fat coating allows these drugs to travel to the sites of illness without leaking into other cells and poisoning them along the way.
DaunoXome encapsulates the highly potent anticancer drug daunorubicine in liposomes that are injected into the body.
NeXstar did not disclose a price for DaunoXome, but said it would be comparable to the current three-drug treatment Kaposi's patients now undergo.
KEYWORDS: FDA DRUG AIDS by CNB