A new oral chemotherapy drug for colon cancer was approved by the FDA

A new oral chemotherapy drug for colon cancer was approved by the FDA on Sept 22, 2015.  The drug is trifluridine/tipiracil, which targets altering DNA replication during cell division.  The drug was tested and approved in patients with previously treated metastatic colon cancer that have progressed on all other approved treatments.  The drug was compared against a placebo pill, and on average people lived two months longer when taking the drug than taking placebo.  The main side effects are related to suppression of blood counts as well as fatigue.  While the survival advantage is not terribly impressive, this does provide another novel drug in an area where there are not many options after the first few standard treatments.

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