Drug for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting launched
Palonosetron is given as a single IV bolus 30 minutes before chemotherapy |
A new single-dose drug for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting was launched this week by Cambridge Laboratories.
The company says that palonosetron (Aloxi), a second generation 5HT3 antagonist, has a longer half-life — about 40 hours compared with
four to nine hours for first generation drugs — and a greater ability
to bind to the 5HT3 receptors than the first generation drugs in its
class.
Palonosetron is licensed for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting
associated with highly emetogenic and moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy.
It is given as a single intravenous bolus of 250µg 30 minutes before
chemotherapy. Repeated dosing within a seven-day interval is not recommended.
In two randomised controlled trials comparing palonosetron with dolasetron
and ondansetron for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting,
palonosetron was at least as effective as the comparators. The side effect
profile is similar to that of first generation 5HT3 antagonists, with
headache and constipation being the most common.
Notice-board p705
Correction
Palonosetron (Aloxi) is licensed for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, not just acute nausea and vomiting. |
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