Crocodilian

Spectrum Pharma: Zevalin Has Blockbuster Potential

Very hard to have a new blockbuster drug for NHL . . . given that the current first line therapy, Rituxan, works very well, has been used for a decade.

author writes: "If there is a SHIFT in the STANDARD OF CARE treatment for NHL, then a majority of doctors will likely implement RIT into the first-line treatment."

That's a big "if".

Oncologists use what they know. At this point, they have a good drug, which they know well. The most likely scenario for Zevalin is as a second line drug for relapsing patients. Each addition to a drug regimen adds considerably to cost and to the potential for complications. Most community oncologists avoid the the complicated multidrug protocols common at research hospitals if they can . . . in this case, they can.