The Secret Drug Behind Jimmy Carter’s Cancer Treatment Revealed!

by Reshma Anand on December 11, 2015 at 12:53 PM

'The former US president, Jimmy Carter has been administered with a new cancer drug called pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which has completely destroyed his melanoma cells and made him cancer-free.'

Carter has been administered with a newly developed cancer drug called pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Pembrolizumab is an antibody which works by blocking white blood cells (T-cells) from attacking healthy cells in the body. The mechanism is described as a "Brake system", wherein pembrolizumab destroys some healthy cells along with malignant ones, with damage to the healthy cells being only minimal.

Former American President Jimmy Carter is Now 'cancer-Free'

The most recent MRI brain scan of former American President Jimmy Carter did not reveal any signs of the original cancer spots nor any new ones.

‘The former US president, Jimmy Carter has been administered with a newly emerged cancer drug called pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which has completely destroyed his melanoma cells and made him cancer-free.’

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However researchers have revealed that this miracle drug Keytruda took a long time to develop. It has taken many years for scientists to discover the key mechanism after undergoing several trials and errors. The first clinical trials were performed on mice and it was later tried on cancer patients.

After approval of the FDA, the drug was marketed under the name Keytruda by US-based Merck Pharmaceuticals. The drug is not affordable for many vulnerable patients as its estimated cost is about $150,000 a year.

Jimmy Carter has said that he will continue to receive Keytruda every three weeks in order to prevent the growth of further tumors.

Source: Medindia