FDA Approves First Drug for Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma 
On Thursday September 24, 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pralatrexate injection (Folotyn) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Folotyn was approved under the FDA's accelerated approval process, which allows earlier approval of drugs that meet unmet medical needs. It is approved for patients who have relapsed, or have not responded well to other forms of chemotherapy.
Peripheral T-cell lymphomas comprise 10 to 15 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in adults. The term peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is based on the fact that these are tumors composed of T-cells and that the cells are mature. Most peripheral T-cell lymphomas are aggressive, with the exception of mycosis fungoides (CTCL), mentioned above with the indolent or low grade lymphomas. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas such as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma or anaplastic large cell lymphoma can arise in lymph nodes, while others like subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, or intestinal T-cell lymphoma can arise in extranodal sites. These tumors are not well understood, but they are usually aggressive and have widespread involvement at diagnosis.
To read the press release issued by Allos Therapeutics, Inc., please click here.
To learn more about PTCL, you can view available webcasts or view/download LRF's PTCL fact sheet online.
9/25/09
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