FDA moving backwards on Lymphoma Therapy


So Says Terra Sigilata

The other day I fired off a quick post on the absurdity of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to cut reimbursements for two radioimmunotherapy drugs for lymphoma to less than their cost. The two immunotherapy drugs in question are Bexxar (I-131 tositumomab) and Zevalin (Y-90 ibritumomab) - both drugs target the CD20 protein on the surface of normal and malignant B-lymphocytes, killing the cells by the radioactive emissions of their respective radionuclides.

I personally am very very enthusiastic about a newer approach to targetting CD20 based on streptavidin conjugated anti-CD20, biotinylated glactosylated albumin and Y-90 DOTA-biotin. It is not even in trials because Aletheon Pharmaceuticals needs to find a partner/investor willing to put $6,000,000 into GMP synthesis of biotinylated glactosylated albumin and DOTA-biotin.

Just saying.