New Jersey: A pill used for lung cancer can reduce the risk of the disease coming back and dying within five years, a study has found.
New England Journal of Medicine In a study published in , scientists tested 682 people over three years. 339 people were given osimertinib and 343 people were given a placebo.
According to research, people who were given this drug had an 85 percent chance of disease recurrence, while the chance of dying within five years of treatment was halved.
Cancer experts have called the medicine revolutionary after seeing the data revealed in the research.
This pill, which has been approved by the US Drug Chief, will be given to patients suffering from a genetic subtype of lung tumors.
These tumors are caused by a genetic mutation. These mutations release a protein called EGFR and help tumors grow. But osimertinib blocks the signal from the gene to release the protein and kills cancer cells.
Dr. Faiz Bhoora, from Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey, described the drug trial results as very important.
He said that in the past medical experts were happy with a five or 10 percent cancer survival rate, now experts are talking about a 50 percent improvement in this rate.
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