FDA Panel Rejects Expanded Use of Prostate Drug (Madison)

First Name: Madison

Current Event Posting Number: 2

Topic: Health

Title: FDA Panel Rejects Expanded Use of Prostate Drug

Writer: Gina Kolata

Publication Name: New York Times

Date of Publication: December 1, 2010

URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/health/policy/02drug.html?_r=1&ref=health

Summery:

Earlier this week the Food and Drug Administration was asked a question. Would they recommend that the labels of two different drugs be changed to say that they can reduce a mans risk of getting prostate cancer. If answered yes, these would be the second drug on the market saying it will reduce risk of cancer. The first being tamoxifen that reduces breast cancer. The two drugs that could be joining tamoxifen are the drug with a name of dutasteride, made by GlaxcoSmithKline and sold as Avodart. The other is Finasteride a generic made by Merck and sold as Proscar. But neither of these passed thew the Food and Drug Administration. The committee said that there were uncertinty about long term consequences. Even though both of these are currently on the market to help shrink the prostate their label will not be changed to say they can help avoid the risk of cancer.

Conclusion:

The FDA did the right thing by not letting both drugs pass. If the drugs had further consequences and they weren't sure if it would fully avoid cancer, than it was probably the best idea not to put the drugs under the category, helping avoid cancer. The drug could possible do more harm than good, and the FDA would have more of a problem if they were let threw.