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| |  Canada Approves Estrogen-Suppressant Aromasin (Exemestane) For Advanced Breast Cancer MISSISSAUGA, ON -- August 31, 2000 -- Health Canada has approved the estrogen-suppressing drug Aromasin™ (exemestane tablets) for post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer whose tumours no longer respond to tamoxifen. In a major study compared with a standard therapy, Aromasin has been shown to reduce the risk of death by 23 percent and reduce the risk of tumours spreading by 18 percent in women whose cancer has progressed despite tamoxifen. This is an important finding that could benefit as many as 30,000 Canadian women whose cancer has advanced beyond the breast area, since the longer tumour growth is controlled, the longer women may live. Health Canada based its approval on a European Phase III study, comparing Aromasin with a standard hormonal therapy, megestrol acetate, which showed that Aromasin produced superior effectiveness, delayed tumour growth and significantly increased survival, with manageable side effects. "This is an important addition to the treatment options for women with advanced breast cancer, so we are pleased to make this drug available across Canada," said Dr. David Cook, Vice President Medical/Scientific Affairs, Pharmacia Canada. "Aromasin is the first oral hormone drug which selectively targets and permanently binds to the aromatase enzyme, a key enzyme required to produce estrogen, which some breast cancer cells need to survive," says Dr. Maureen Trudeau, Director of Medical Oncology, Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre. "Aromasin suppresses the supply of estrogen to cancerous cells and helps prevent the cells from continuing to grow. Once the binding occurs, estrogen can never be made by that enzyme again." "At the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada, we believe that people with cancer must have timely access to all evidence-based treatment options. Especially for women living with advanced breast cancer who have limited treatments available, we welcome the approval of Aromasin as an important option for suppressing tumour growth," said Pat Kelly, spokesperson for the C.A.C.C. In addition to stemming the spread of cancer, women taking Aromasin experienced less undesirable weight gain than with megestrol acetate and experience tolerable side effects, namely, low-grade nausea and hot flashes. BREAST CANCER (Source: National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2000) - In 2000, 19,200 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed vs. 8,400 new cases of lung cancer in women.
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