Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Monday, 5 August 1997
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) pioneered the commercial development of TAXOL beginning in 1991. Collaborative work with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 1993 led to the discovery of TAXOL activity against KS. Subsequently, Bristol-Myers Squibb sponsored a larger independent clinical trial to confirm the initial NCI/BMS TAXOL Kaposi's sarcoma data. BMS continues to fund studies of TAXOL in Kaposi's sarcoma patients while pursuing ongoing research of TAXOL in many other tumor types.
"To ensure the widest availability and reimbursement of this treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma, we invested in the necessary clinical development of TAXOL for KS," said Renzo Canetta, M.D., vice president, Oncology Clinical Research, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "We published significant data in the scientific literature on TAXOL Kaposi's sarcoma findings."
In clinical studies, a majority of KS patients treated with TAXOL, all of whom had failed prior therapy, benefited from treatment with TAXOL. TAXOL therapy provided tumor shrinkage and symptom reduction including reduced edema (fluid accumulation), reduction of pain, and general improvement of the patient's performance status. The most common side effect among patients in the studies was myleosuppression (a reduction in bone marrow cells). Other side effects included hair loss and muscle soreness.
Current estimates are that 202,000 people in the U.S. are living with AIDS. About 20% or 40,000 of them will be affected by KS at some time during their illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BMS applied for and the FDA granted orphan drug status for paclitaxel for this indication.
"BMS is a world leader in the development of drugs for AIDS and cancer," said Rick Winningham, president, Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology/Immunology Division. "To date, BMS has sponsored more than 500 TAXOL clinical trials involving 40,000 patients to explore new uses for the drug and thus, it remains one of the most intensively researched anticancer drugs."
In addition to TAXOL, Bristol-Myers Squibb markets Zerit(R) (d4T, stavudine), Videx(R) (ddI, didanosine), Megace(R) OS (megestrol acetate) and Fungizone(R) OS (amphotericin B) for use in the treatment of HIV disease. BMS is also currently developing two new protease inhibitors for the treatment of HIV /AIDS.
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a diversified company whose main focus is worldwide health and personal care. The principal businesses are pharm aceuticals, consumer products, nutritionals, and medical devices. It is a leading maker of innovative therapies for cardiovascular, metabolic and infectious diseases, central nervous system and dermatological disorders, and cancer. The company will invest about $1.5 billion in research and development in 1997.
Visit Bristol-Myers Squibb on the World Wide Web at: http://www.bms.com
CONTACT: John Kouten of Bristol-Myers Squibb, 609-252-5456, or pager, 888-985-7407/
Copyright (c) 1997/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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