Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on TwitterBe a Facebook FanTumble us!

30 Apr 2010 00:37

tags

U.S.: The newly approved Provenge: It’s a cure for prostate cancer, kinda

  • $93,000 the amount the cancer vaccine,
    which the FDA just approved
    yesterday, costs
  • four the number of months the drug
    adds to the life expectancy of a
    prostate cancer patient source
  • ยป It’s a vaccine that doesn’t really work like a vaccine. The vaccine, administered in three shots, is made from a patient’s own cells, and is used to teach the body how to kill malignant cancer cells. However, unlike most vaccines, it doesn’t prevent the disease, just slows it down. The drug may be expensive, but it’s more effective than chemotherapy.