Article

FDA Okays Lung Drug

Author(s):

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a new use for sirolimus, treating a rare lung disease.

The FDA today approved sirolimus (Rapamune/Wyeth) to treat an extremely rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

The approval was based on a 2-year study of patients with the disease, compared to a group getting a placebo.

The research showed that patients on the drug had a slower loss of lung function.

“After discontinuation of Rapamune, the decline in lung function resumed at a rate similar to the placebo group,” the FDA said in a news release.

It is available in both tablet form and as an oral solution. Side effects include mouth and lip ulcers, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, sore throat, acne, chest pain, and leg swelling.

Sirolimus has been used since 1999 as an immunosuppressive drug for kidney transplant patients.

Related Videos
Developing Risk Assessment Tools for Viruses in School
Using Microbiomes to Diagnose Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
What Do Patients Need to Learn About their Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?
Discussing Use of Vaping Among Students, Conversations About Vaccines
Pavel Strnad, MD | Credit: RWTH Aachen
Janelle Bludhorn, MS, PA-C: How Common Medications Are Impacted by Extreme Heat
How to Screen for Heat-Related Illness Risks, with Janelle Bludhorn, MS, PA-C
A Promising Pipeline for COPD
Projecting Dupilumab's Fit in COPD
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.