First Drug Ok'd to Combat Spreading Basal Cell Skin Cancer
Updated: 2012-01-30 20:55:10
Health News First Drug Ok'd to Combat Spreading Basal Cell Skin Cancer Print E-mail MONDAY , Jan . 30 HealthDay News The U.S . Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a drug to treat the most common form of skin cancer , basal cell . carcinoma Erivedge vismodegib is the first drug sanctioned in the United States to treat basal cell skin cancer that has metastasized , or spread . The once-daily pill is also designed for cases deemed unsuitable for surgery or radiation , the agency said in a news . release This usually slow-growing , painless form of cancer starts in the epidermis , the top layer of skin . Frequent exposure to sunlight and other forms of ultraviolet radiation are the typical causes , the FDA . said Researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Erivedge in a