Efficacy

Efficacy of Tasigna (Nilotinib) in Treating Leukemia

Tasigna, known generically as nilotinib, is a medication that has been approved for the treatment of chronic phase and accelerated phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in adults. Nilotinib is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor that specifically targets the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, which is produced by the Philadelphia chromosome abnormality in CML. The efficacy of Tasigna has been demonstrated in clinical trials where it has been shown to lead to high rates of hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with CML, particularly in those who are newly diagnosed or who are resistant or intolerant to prior therapy including imatinib (another tyrosine kinase inhibitor).

Clinical studies have shown that patients treated with nilotinib have achieved faster and deeper responses compared to some other treatments. In the ENESTnd trial, which compared nilotinib to imatinib in newly diagnosed patients, nilotinib was associated with a higher rate of major molecular response and a lower progression to accelerated phase or blast crisis. These results suggest that Tasigna is highly effective in controlling the proliferation of leukemia cells and delaying disease progression in patients with CML.

Efficacy of Daurismo (Glasdegib) in Treating Leukemia

Daurismo, with the active ingredient glasdegib, is a medication approved for use in combination with low-dose cytarabine for the treatment of newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults who are 75 years or older, or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy. Glasdegib is a hedgehog pathway inhibitor, which works by blocking signals that are essential for the maintenance and survival of cancer stem cells. The approval of Daurismo was based on the results of clinical trials that demonstrated its efficacy in this patient population.

In a pivotal clinical trial, patients treated with the combination of glasdegib and low-dose cytarabine showed a significant improvement in overall survival when compared to patients who were treated with low-dose cytarabine alone. The median overall survival was notably longer in the glasdegib group, indicating that Daurismo, when used in combination with cytarabine, provides a survival benefit to patients with AML who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy. This evidence supports the use of Daurismo as an effective treatment option for this specific group of AML patients.