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| |  New Data Demonstrates Survival Benefits Of Camptosar In Colon Cancer TORONTO, ON. -- September 17, 1999 -- Colon cancer sufferers have received some important news as Health Canada approved new data showing that Pharmacia and Upjohn Inc.'s anti-cancer drug, Camptosar® (irinotecan hcl) can help people live longer. Camptosar was approved in July 1997 for use by patients with metastatic (spreading) cancer whose disease has recurred or spread following treatment with the standard chemotherapy agent, (5-FU or fluorouracil).
"In North America, Camptosar was among the first new medicines to be introduced in 40 years to treat colon cancer," states Dr. Christian Fortin, a respected medical researcher who is in the midst of a Quebec-wide tour in co-operation with the Canadian Cancer Society to promote modern approaches to treating colorectal cancer. "Recent studies have proven Camptosar's capacity to prolong the lives of people who previously had no other medical options. I think that is significant news for patients living with this disease." According to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, more than 16,000 new cases of colon and rectal (or colorectal) cancer are diagnosed each year in Canada. It is the second deadliest form of cancer among men and women. Ten percent (6300 annually) of all cancer deaths are attributed to colorectal cancer. An October 1998 article in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, indicated that more than 50 percent of those diagnosed will be unable to be cured by surgical invention and of those, the median duration of survival is less than a year. There are estimated to be more than 100,000 Canadians who are afflicted by this disease. Health Canada reviewed the findings from two international clinical studies that demonstrated the medicine's benefits. The studies found that patients whose colon cancer had progressed following a standard 5-FU course-of-treatment experienced significantly increased survival rates when they received Camptosar. One study compared patients who received Camptosar against patients who received no further drug treatments. In that study, the Camptosar patients lived 41 percent longer than those who did not receive the medicine. The second study reviewed the experience of patients who received Camptosar against those who received a further dose of 5-FU. Camptosar patients lived 27 percent longer on average in the latter study. Both studies were large multi-centre, Phase III clinical trials, the results of which were published in The Lancet. In addition to its notable benefits in helping people live longer, the studies demonstrated as well that Camptosar also delayed major medical complications closely associated with the disease. Patients experienced pain and substantial weight loss significantly later when taking Camptosar than those who did not take the medicine. The ability to maintain daily tasks was also prolonged for patients who took the drug. Health Canada also approved a new dosing option based on the data from the two studies. In both cases, patients received 350 mg/m2 of Camptosar every three weeks. The revised dosing schedule provides patients with a new treatment option that is more convenient, without unmanageable increases in side effects. It also allows physicians greater flexibility in the management of this life-threatening disease. It will also allow cancer centres to free up valuable resources through reducing the number of visits by patients. Further international clinical studies have been completed or are underway which researchers hope will form the scientific basis for the drug being recognized as the first new post-surgery therapy for colon cancer since 5-FU. In addition, it is hoped that it will be utilized in combination with other medications to provide even greater protection against the devastating effects of this disease on patients and their families. Related Links: Camptosar and Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc.
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