New Drug ADI-PEG20 Shows Significant Progress in Treating Mesothelioma

In a major breakthrough, ADI-PEG20 combined with chemotherapy has improved survival rates for mesothelioma patients, marking the first advancement in 20 years.

• ADI-PEG20, when combined with chemotherapy, increased the average survival of mesothelioma patients by 1.6 months and quadrupled the three-year survival rate.
• The drug works by depleting arginine levels in the bloodstream, hindering the growth of tumor cells that cannot produce their own arginine.
• The international trial, led by Queen Mary University of London, involved 249 patients across five countries, showing significant improvement in median overall survival.
• Patients who received ADI-PEG20 and chemotherapy survived for an average of 9.3 months, compared to 7.7 months for those who received a placebo and chemotherapy.
• The breakthrough offers hope to those affected by mesothelioma, a deadly cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, and opens avenues for treating other arginine-dependent cancers.

3 Articles

NDTV UPI The Guardian