New treatment eliminates bladder cancer in 82% of patients.
A new drug-releasing system, TAR-200, eliminated tumors in 82% of patients in a phase 2 clinical trial for high-risk bladder cancer.
Why it matters
- TAR-200 could offer a new treatment option for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who have limited options.
- The treatment is the most effective reported to date for the most common form of bladder cancer.
By the numbers
- 82% of patients had tumors eliminated.
- 85 patients participated in the trial.
- Almost half the patients were cancer-free a year later.
The big picture
- TAR-200 releases gemcitabine slowly over weeks, a more effective approach than previous methods.
- The treatment was well-tolerated with minimal side effects.
What they're saying
- The lead author, Sia Daneshmand, MD, called the findings a breakthrough in treating certain types of bladder cancer.
- Users on Reddit highlighted the main findings and discussed the study's implications.
Caveats
- The study is a phase 2 clinical trial; further research is needed.
- Combining TAR-200 with another immunotherapy drug was less effective and had more side effects.
What’s next
- Participants will be followed for another year.
- The FDA has granted TAR-200 a New Drug Application Priority Review, which means quicker action on the application.