New Drug: Votrient for renal cell cancer – pro
Votrient(pazopanib) is a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor and it is currently approved for renal cell carcinoma. VOTRIENT® is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma(RCC).
Pazopanib has not been compared to other agents for the treatment of RCC in clinical trials. Two published clinical trials have evaluated pazopanib in RCC. In one randomized, double-blind trial, median progression free survival was improved with pazopanib (9.2 months) compared to placebo (4.2 months, p<0.0001); more patients experienced a complete or partial response with pazopanib (30%) compared to placebo (3%, p<0.001). In one open-label trial, 35% of patients experienced a complete or partial response. Median progression free survival was 52 weeks. The median duration of response ranged from 58.7 to 68 weeks.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends Votrient for RCC as follows:
• First-line therapy as a single agent for relapsed or medically unresectable stage IV disease with predominant clear cell histology in selected patients (grade 1)
• Subsequent therapy as a single agent for relapsed or medically unresectable stage IV disease with predominant clear cell histology in patients who have progressed on prior first-line therapy (grade 1)
This drug is also recommended by NICE.
Bible KC, Smallridge R, Maples W, et al. Phase II trial of pazopanib in progressive, metastatic, iodine-insensitive differentiated thyroid cancers [Abstract 3521]. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2009;27(15S).
GlaxoSmithKline. Votrient (pazopanib tablets) [product information]. Research Triangle Park, NC: GlaxoSmithKline; 2010.
McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS 2010 Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, Inc. 2010.
NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium™. Votrient™ (pazopanib). Copyright 20109, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).