FDA granted priority review status to lenvatinib mesylate as a treatment for progressive radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.
Developed by Eisai Inc., lenvatinib is an oral multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, in addition to other proangiogenic and oncogenic pathway-related tyrosine kinases thought to be involved in tumor proliferation. These include fibroblast growth factor receptors, the platelet-derived growth factor receptor PDGFR, KIT and RET, which are thought to be involved in tumor proliferation.
Lenvatinib was granted orphan drug designation in various types of thyroid cancer in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. It is currently under investigation in thyroid, hepatocellular, endometrial, non-small cell lung cancer, and other solid tumor types.
A modest proposal from a former FDA commissioner: Add antidepressants to the nation’s water supply
Warning: This is not a public health recommendation. Do not implement.