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Breast Cancer Drug Approved for Extended Use, says FDA

Tykerb (lapatinib) has been approved for treatment in combination with Femara (letrozole) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for postmenopausal women who rely on hormonal therapy.

Tykerb targets metastatic, postmenopausal breast cancer that is HER2-positive.

Now Tykerb can be taken orally with Femara to deprive tumor cells of what they need to grow and block the function of the HER2 protein.

The approval of Tykerb was based on a study in which the Tykerb and Femara drug combination more than doubled the time women lived without the cancer progressing compared to the women who only took Femara.

Several of the side effects reported in previous Tykerb clinical studies include diarrhea, rash, fatigue, nausea, decreases in heart function, lung tissue inflammation and liver damage. It has also been reported that fetal harm may occur in pregnant women who use Tykerb to treat advanced breast cancer.

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