FDA questions Amgen drug for prostate cancer

By Bryce Istvan:Xgeva, part of the Denosumab family, is Amgen’s (AMGN) latest bone related drug. Its current indication is for the treatment of skeletal related events (SREs) caused by bone metastases in all cancers excluding multiple myelomas.

This is a great op-ed by Richard Ablin, discoverer of the prostate-specific antigen test, about the misuse to which his discovery has been put:

The Burrill Report submits: A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has voted against expanding the use of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Avodart, its treatment for enlarged prostate, to include reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men at risk for the disease. The panel voted 14 to 2 against.

The treatment, denosumab, delayed the spread of prostate cancer to bones in a clinical trial, the company said late Monday.

The Burrill Report submits: By Michael Fitzhugh

Amgen Inc.'s denosumab delayed the spread of prostate cancer to men's bones, a study found, sending shares of the Thousand Oaks company's higher.

Amgen just notched what could be a big win for its bone drug. The biotechnology firm announced that

A federal health panel on Thursday said a highly anticipated bone drug from Amgen benefits patients with osteoporosis, but should not be used to prevent the disease because of long-term safety questions.