FDA Approves Using Form Of Herpes Virus To Battle Melanoma
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The herpes virus may now be used to fight certain cancers.
The FDA has approved the use of Imlygic for certain patients battling melanoma, the leading cause of skin cancer related deaths.
Dr. Marlana Orloff, medical oncologist at Thomas Jefferson Univeristy Hospital says this medication is the first in its class.
"It's actually a herpes virus, but it's modified and we know that viruses are very good at getting into cells and causing damage, and this was an attempt to use the behavior of a virus and actually target it against a cancer."
She says side effects are few and well tolerated. She adds that several recently approved therapies are giving melanoma patients a good chance at living a long life.
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