FDA Gives Green Signal To Sanofi-Aventis SA's Cancer Drug Taxotere

French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis SA announced on Thursday that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its cancer drug Taxotere to treat patients with stomach cancer. This approval means that Taxotere can be used in combination with chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil to treat stomach cancers that have not been treated with chemotherapy.

Taxotere is also approved to treat some types of breast cancer and lung cancer. Certain types of prostate cancer can also be treated with the drug when used in combination with prednisolone. Sanofi-Aventis SA was able to speed up the review process after data from a late-stage clinical trial showed that the survival period increased when taxotere was used. Advanced or spreading stomach cancer does not have a big survival period.