FRIDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Inlyta (axitinib) has been
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced
renal cell carcinoma in people who haven't responded to another
drug.
Renal cell carcinoma is a form of kidney cancer that begins in
tissue that lines the kidney's small tubes. Inlyta blocks proteins
that help fuel tumor growth in this area, the FDA said in a news
release.
Six medications had been sanctioned previously for advanced
kidney cancer, the agency said.
In a study of 723 people with the advanced form of kidney
cancer, the most common side effects of Inlyta included diarrhea,
high blood pressure, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, loss of
voice, weight loss, weakness and constipation.
Among some patients, Inlyta also caused significant bleeding,
which in some cases proved fatal. The FDA also warned that people
with high blood pressure should make sure the problem is well
controlled before taking the twice-daily drug.
People with untreated brain tumors or gastrointestinal bleeding
should not take Inlyta, the FDA said.
The drug is marketed by Pfizer.
More information
Medline Plus has more about renal cell
carcinoma.