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Dabrafenib – Approval
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Dabrafenib – Approval

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Dabrafenib – Approval

  • Post
    • May 22, 2012 at 1:15 am
    rrrule32
    Participant

      Hello all, my name is Travis and my wife Kaitlyn has Stage 4 melanoma.  She is 23 years old.

      I've been reading about a highly effective drug called Dabrafenib.  It has not yet been approved by the FDA.  I think we all need to ban together and get on the FDA to get this drug approved so it can start saving young lives.  

      Hello all, my name is Travis and my wife Kaitlyn has Stage 4 melanoma.  She is 23 years old.

      I've been reading about a highly effective drug called Dabrafenib.  It has not yet been approved by the FDA.  I think we all need to ban together and get on the FDA to get this drug approved so it can start saving young lives.  

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 22, 2012 at 1:16 am
        rrrule32
        Participant

          I didn't mean to say "young" lives.  I just mean lives in general.  

          • May 22, 2012 at 1:16 am
          rrrule32
          Participant

            I didn't mean to say "young" lives.  I just mean lives in general.  

              • May 22, 2012 at 11:19 am
              Laurie from maine
              Participant

                Hi

                You are right on both counts – we need to save more lives and yes 23 is young soo very young.  I am sorry you are both having to walk into this battle at such a young age. You are both young and strong so that will help you win this battle together. 

                  I dont know anything about that drug, but will look into it. 

                Keep us posted – take care

                laurie from maine

                • May 22, 2012 at 11:19 am
                Laurie from maine
                Participant

                  Hi

                  You are right on both counts – we need to save more lives and yes 23 is young soo very young.  I am sorry you are both having to walk into this battle at such a young age. You are both young and strong so that will help you win this battle together. 

                    I dont know anything about that drug, but will look into it. 

                  Keep us posted – take care

                  laurie from maine

                  • May 22, 2012 at 11:19 am
                  Laurie from maine
                  Participant

                    Hi

                    You are right on both counts – we need to save more lives and yes 23 is young soo very young.  I am sorry you are both having to walk into this battle at such a young age. You are both young and strong so that will help you win this battle together. 

                      I dont know anything about that drug, but will look into it. 

                    Keep us posted – take care

                    laurie from maine

                  • May 22, 2012 at 1:16 am
                  rrrule32
                  Participant

                    I didn't mean to say "young" lives.  I just mean lives in general.  

                    • May 22, 2012 at 11:19 am
                    Linny
                    Participant

                      Unfortunately, FDA approval takes time.

                      According to an article I found on line, the drug is available if you want to participate in a clinical trial: "There currently are two trials in the works with dabrafenib in melanoma: a phase II study in patients with asymptomatic brain metastases and a phase III randomized, controlled trial of dabrafenib compared with dacarbazine (Dtic-Dome)." (http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Leukemia/32765)

                      I have heard of instances where, if the drug being tested produces outstanding results, everyone participating in that trial will be put on the drug.

                      • May 22, 2012 at 11:19 am
                      Linny
                      Participant

                        Unfortunately, FDA approval takes time.

                        According to an article I found on line, the drug is available if you want to participate in a clinical trial: "There currently are two trials in the works with dabrafenib in melanoma: a phase II study in patients with asymptomatic brain metastases and a phase III randomized, controlled trial of dabrafenib compared with dacarbazine (Dtic-Dome)." (http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Leukemia/32765)

                        I have heard of instances where, if the drug being tested produces outstanding results, everyone participating in that trial will be put on the drug.

                        • May 22, 2012 at 11:19 am
                        Linny
                        Participant

                          Unfortunately, FDA approval takes time.

                          According to an article I found on line, the drug is available if you want to participate in a clinical trial: "There currently are two trials in the works with dabrafenib in melanoma: a phase II study in patients with asymptomatic brain metastases and a phase III randomized, controlled trial of dabrafenib compared with dacarbazine (Dtic-Dome)." (http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Leukemia/32765)

                          I have heard of instances where, if the drug being tested produces outstanding results, everyone participating in that trial will be put on the drug.

                          • May 23, 2012 at 1:17 am
                          Eileen L
                          Participant

                            Travis, there are two drugs that have been approved for Stage IV in the past year, Yervoy and Zelboraf. Is your wife seeing a melanoma specialist? Hopefully her oncologist is familiar with the range of options for us Stage IV folks!

                            Eileen L

                            • May 23, 2012 at 1:17 am
                            Eileen L
                            Participant

                              Travis, there are two drugs that have been approved for Stage IV in the past year, Yervoy and Zelboraf. Is your wife seeing a melanoma specialist? Hopefully her oncologist is familiar with the range of options for us Stage IV folks!

                              Eileen L

                              • May 23, 2012 at 1:17 am
                              Eileen L
                              Participant

                                Travis, there are two drugs that have been approved for Stage IV in the past year, Yervoy and Zelboraf. Is your wife seeing a melanoma specialist? Hopefully her oncologist is familiar with the range of options for us Stage IV folks!

                                Eileen L

                                  • May 23, 2012 at 2:46 am
                                  rrrule32
                                  Participant

                                    Hi Eileen,

                                    I have heard of these and she actually tried Yervoy.  Yervoy is just beginning to work on her body, but they discovered mets in her brain.  Apparently, our immune system has a hard time breaking the blood brain barrier.  It sounds like Zelboraf doesn't break that barrier either.

                                    But, I heard Dabrafenib has had success getting into the brain and killing off tumors.  That's why the FDA needs to approve this drug fast.

                                    I've researched options all over the web, and it seems like Dabrafenib is the best option right now for fighting brain tumors.

                                    • May 23, 2012 at 2:46 am
                                    rrrule32
                                    Participant

                                      Hi Eileen,

                                      I have heard of these and she actually tried Yervoy.  Yervoy is just beginning to work on her body, but they discovered mets in her brain.  Apparently, our immune system has a hard time breaking the blood brain barrier.  It sounds like Zelboraf doesn't break that barrier either.

                                      But, I heard Dabrafenib has had success getting into the brain and killing off tumors.  That's why the FDA needs to approve this drug fast.

                                      I've researched options all over the web, and it seems like Dabrafenib is the best option right now for fighting brain tumors.

                                      • May 23, 2012 at 2:46 am
                                      rrrule32
                                      Participant

                                        Hi Eileen,

                                        I have heard of these and she actually tried Yervoy.  Yervoy is just beginning to work on her body, but they discovered mets in her brain.  Apparently, our immune system has a hard time breaking the blood brain barrier.  It sounds like Zelboraf doesn't break that barrier either.

                                        But, I heard Dabrafenib has had success getting into the brain and killing off tumors.  That's why the FDA needs to approve this drug fast.

                                        I've researched options all over the web, and it seems like Dabrafenib is the best option right now for fighting brain tumors.

                                      • May 23, 2012 at 12:28 pm
                                      AllyNTAus
                                      Participant
                                        Travis, you are correct, Dabrafenib (GSK’s BRAF inhibitor) has just been reported in the last week as showing some pretty amazing results with brain mets, and they only discovered it by chance really. Because of that finding in the phase I trial between 2009 and 2011 they are now doing some more studies on Dabrafenib in patients with brain mets, and as mentioned there are some other trials of it ongoing.

                                        Do talk with the doctors about possible access to a Dabrafenib trial!

                                        I am just into my 4th week of taking this drug, and while I don’t have brain mets, I believe it is already doing me a lot of good.

                                        Wishing you and your wife all the best

                                        • May 23, 2012 at 12:28 pm
                                        AllyNTAus
                                        Participant
                                          Travis, you are correct, Dabrafenib (GSK’s BRAF inhibitor) has just been reported in the last week as showing some pretty amazing results with brain mets, and they only discovered it by chance really. Because of that finding in the phase I trial between 2009 and 2011 they are now doing some more studies on Dabrafenib in patients with brain mets, and as mentioned there are some other trials of it ongoing.

                                          Do talk with the doctors about possible access to a Dabrafenib trial!

                                          I am just into my 4th week of taking this drug, and while I don’t have brain mets, I believe it is already doing me a lot of good.

                                          Wishing you and your wife all the best

                                          • May 23, 2012 at 12:28 pm
                                          AllyNTAus
                                          Participant
                                            Travis, you are correct, Dabrafenib (GSK’s BRAF inhibitor) has just been reported in the last week as showing some pretty amazing results with brain mets, and they only discovered it by chance really. Because of that finding in the phase I trial between 2009 and 2011 they are now doing some more studies on Dabrafenib in patients with brain mets, and as mentioned there are some other trials of it ongoing.

                                            Do talk with the doctors about possible access to a Dabrafenib trial!

                                            I am just into my 4th week of taking this drug, and while I don’t have brain mets, I believe it is already doing me a lot of good.

                                            Wishing you and your wife all the best

                                        Viewing 11 reply threads
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