French Pharma Company Sanofil-Aventis’s Taxotere (Docetaxel) got US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval for treating head and neck cancer. FDA approved Docetaxel for treating locally advanced head and neck cancer prior to chemotherapy and surgery.
Taxotere is used in combination therapy along with cisplatin and 5-fluouracil for treating unresectable advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. Its usage before chemotherapy/radiotherapy and surgery improve the survival chances of patients.
The drug was approved by FDA based on the TAX 324 trial results (Phase 3 randomized). Adding Taxotere to combination therapy will reduce death risk by 30%, according to trials.
Side effects of Taxotere:
Febrile Neutropenia is the most common side effect. Dizziness, alopecia and diarrhea are other common side effects of Taxotere therapy.
Head and neck cancer statistics:
More than 0.6 million people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer each year. Head and neck cancer is responsible 0.35 million deaths annually. Head and neck cancer is a group of many related Diseases that mostly begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area such as the mouth, tongue, tonsils and throat.
Taxotere is currently approved in the America and Europe for treating breast cancer, prostate cancer, head-neck cancer, gastric cancer and lung cancer.
Sanofil-Aventis is the third largest drug maker in the world.
