Hope for AML patients with rare gene mutation
June is AML awareness month.
Specialists have begun using ivosidenib, one such drug, that targets AML with IDH mutation, after Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved it in May.
You Can Also Check:
Pune AQI
|
Weather in Pune
|
Bank Holidays in Pune
|
Public Holidays in Pune
India accounts for the highest number of AML cases after the US and China as per statistics from 2021.
Dr Sameer Melinkeri, clinical haematologist at Pune's Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Centre, said new therapies such as ivosidenib, azacitidine and venetoclax, help precisely target individual mutations in AML.
"Ivosidenib is the first targeted therapy developed specifically for AML patients who carry the rare IDH1 gene mutation," said Dr Melinkeri.
"It blocks a faulty enzyme—mutant IDH1—that causes the buildup of a harmful substance called 2-hydroxyglutarate in the body. This substance stops blood cells from maturing and spreads cancer cells," the doctor added.
He said ivosidenib turns off the cancer-causing switch (mutation) in patients with IDH, a specific gene mutation.
By stopping the enzyme, ivosidenib helps blood cells mature normally, reducing cancerous cells and allowing healthy cells to grow.
Dr Reshma Puranik, a medical and haemato-oncologist with MOC, Cancer Care and Research Centre said that ivosidenib is a first-in-class, oral, small-molecule inhibitor of the mutant IDH1 enzyme and works well in brain tumors with IDH mutation.
In trials, ivosidenib and azacitidine achieved superior outcomes with similar toxicity compared to azacitidine with newly-diagnosed IDH1-mutated AML.
"Patients on ivosidenib need to monitor blood counts along with renal and liver function tests, serum electrolytes and QT interval on ECG. Some patients get a minor rash, feel fatigued, have oral mucositis (ulcers) and are at risk of differentiation syndrome," Dr Puranik added.
While the new targeted therapies are expensive, more awareness and distributors in the market will bring the cost down, experts say.
Dr Shilpa Gupta, consultant haemato-oncologist in a Mumbai-based cancer centre, said, "I have started ivosidenib for a patient and will wait for the results."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
The new space odyssey
When Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla floated into the International Space Station (ISS) from the Crew Dragon capsule that had docked with it on June 26, he wasn't feeling too good. Despite being a test pilot in the Indian Air Force, like most astronauts on their maiden flight into orbit, Shukla admitted that his head felt heavy and he was slightly disoriented. That's because he was still adjusting to the near-zero gravity conditions he endured during the 28-hour space flight that brought him and his three compatriots to the ISS, which orbits the earth at a height of 400 km. Dr Brigitte Godard, a former spaceflight surgeon at the Cologne-based European Astronaut Centre who was in Delhi recently, describes the effect this way: 'Despite the lack of gravity, the heart continues to pump at the same rate as it does on earth and blood tends to rush to the head, and the face and tongue swell up. All these are symptoms of motion sickness. The body takes anything between 24 and 36 hours to adjust to zero gravity.'
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chandigarh admin drafts Rs 10,000 monthly aid scheme for disabled acid attack survivors, Punjab & Haryana HC informed
In response to the Punjab and Haryana High Court's directions for ensuring meaningful rehabilitation of acid attack survivors, the Chandigarh administration submitted Friday that it has framed a scheme titled SAHAS – Support and Assistance for Healing Acid Survivors – to provide Rs 10,000 per month as financial aid to survivors who have been rendered disabled. According to the draft scheme, only residents of Chandigarh will be eligible for this aid. The affidavit was filed by Anuradha S Chagti, secretary, social welfare, women and child development, stating that the scheme has been finalised and sent for approval to the competent authority. 'The concurrence from the Finance Department has been received and the funds are available under the state budget to extend the necessary support,' the administration said. SAHAS provides for a monthly financial assistance of Rs 10,000 sent to beneficiaries' bank accounts through Aadhaar-based direct benefit transfer (DBT). The affidavit was submitted in response to a contempt petition filed by advocate H C Arora, who had sought implementation of long-pending court directions for victim support. Submitting its response to the court, the administration concluded: 'The deponent has the highest regard for this Hon'ble High Court and cannot ever think of disobeying its orders.' It requested dismissal of the contempt petition in light of the steps taken. The administration stated that medical aid and interim relief are already available for survivors under an earlier scheme notified by the home department, and SAHAS is an additional initiative. Applicants must provide a disability certificate or a Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) confirming the disability was caused by an acid attack. Applications can be submitted by the survivor or, in cases of severe disability, by a family member or legal heir. Other required documents include a copy of the FIR, Aadhaar card, proof of residence, bank account details, and an annual life certificate. The administration said all applications will be processed within a month, and the payments will begin from the first day of the following month. The scheme also allows for appeals in case an application is rejected. Aggrieved persons can approach the secretary of the social welfare department for redressal.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Small Drugmakers Supplying Medicines In Rural Areas Under Scrutiny; Centre Calls For Crackdown
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has conducted over 1,000 Risk-Based Inspections across the country and asked states/UTs to continue acting after finding non-compliance. Small pharmaceutical companies, especially those supplying medicines in rural areas, have come under regulatory scrutiny, with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) directing state officials to closely monitor their activities and ensure accountability. The DCGI has asked states, via state licensing authorities (SLAs) to take strict action against any such marketers found violating quality standards under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. The move comes amid growing concerns over the quality and compliance practices of certain small-scale players in the drug distribution chain. The apex drug regulatory agency has also called for stricter action against the repeated manufacture of spurious and Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) drugs and asked states to keep CDSCO informed of any regulatory actions taken. 'We are still awaiting response on Schedule M compliance and most small players are unable to cope up with quality scrutiny. The government is convinced that without proper oversight, these companies pose a risk to medicine safety in under-served regions," a senior government official privy to the development told News18. The official added that the apex regulatory authority, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has conducted over 1,000 Risk-Based Inspections (RBIs) across the country. 'These inspections have been key in identifying non-compliance among drug manufacturers and strengthening the surveillance framework." The first is adoption of revised Schedule M. The DCGI has asked state officials to begin enforcing updated Good Manufacturing Practice norms for drug production units. Also, it has asked to fix new drug licensing gaps as state licensing officials have been asked to refrain from issuing product licences without proper permissions from DCGI. The officials have also been instructed 'Post risk based inspections action." The states and UTs have been urged to act on the findings and recommendations that emerge from inspections. CDSCO has informed officials to comply with '84AB" in which details of all drug makers and product details must be uploaded and verified on the central online portal to ensure traceability. Also, the state officials will work on building testing lab capacity which has been flagged as a 'critical need."
