Combo of Arthritis Drug and Experimental Cancer Drug Useful for Treating Melanoma

A drug that is commonly used to treat arthritis, when combined with an experimental cancer drug, can prove to be a potent weapon against the deadliest form of skin cancer. Researchers from the University of East Anglia, UK, and Children’s Hospital Boston, US, tested thousands of compounds before discovering that leflunomide, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, is effective in fighting against melanoma when combined with an experimental drug.

“This is a very exciting breakthrough. There is a very high risk of melanoma cancer returning after it is surgically removed and there have been no drug treatments. Because this drug is already on the market it won’t have to go through all the safety tests so it will come onto the market much quicker”, lead researcher Dr Grant Wheeler said before adding that the drug could come in the market within three years.


Source-Medindia