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The FDA announced the approval of drug that can treat cancer Vitrakvi is a targeted therapy  designed to treat specific types of solid tumors that carry a genetic mutation known as NTRK.

The photo of Vitrakvi.

Claim: Vitrakvi is a miracle drug that cures all types of cancer.

Cancer is considered one of the main causes of death, and it affects people of all ages due  to various genetic changes that ultimately lead to the cell losing control over growth and  division, causing excessive division and tumors to form. Rumors abound about the  existence of curative treatments for it, the most prominent of which during this period  was the claim that one of the anti-tumor drugs under development is a cure for cancer of  all types and regardless of its location.

In November 26, 2018 social media users began talk the US Food and Drug  Administration (FDA) announced the approval of the first drug in the world that can treat  cancer from its source and origin, for adults and children, according to what the  commissioner of the government agency said. The drug “Vitrakvi” relies on treating  genetic mutations in cancerous tumors, regardless of the type of disease or its place of  origin. The new drug will help cancer patients obtain the appropriate treatment, and the  drug “Vitrakvi” contributes to the treatment of people who suffer from different  cancerous tumors, but who possess common genetic mutations. Traditionally, cancer  was treated based on the source of the cancerous tumor, but now the treatment will be  anywhere in the body because you are treating the original gene that caused the tumor

to appear. The drug was actually tried on humans, and the case of recovery of a child was  recorded within months after taking the drug, and the drug will be offered on two bodies,  the first in the form of tablets or capsules, and the other in the form of a syrup for  children in particular.

But this news is partly false.

The drug Vitrakvi is not a magic drug that kills cancer in all its forms and stages. The  drug Vitrakvi is the second drug that treats tumors that carry a specific genetic  characteristic. It is a specialized drug for treating solid cancerous tumors that carry the  NTRK genetic factor. The drug is for specific types that can spread and cannot be  removed surgically. This drug is considered promising and important in that it is directed  to a specific area in which the production of the NTRK gene increases, and it will be  available to adults and children whose tumors carry this genetic factor. Not all tumors  responded to treatment. The tumors that responded to the drug at a rate of 39% were  sarcoma, salivary gland tumor, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, and infantile fibrosarcoma. This medication also had some common side effects that were not mentioned, such as  fatigue, nausea, vomiting, cough, constipation, diarrhea, and dizziness. It is necessary to  have a periodic blood test to check liver function, and pregnant and breastfeeding women  are not allowed to take it. This treatment is used to treat specific cases and not all  tumors. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority made a clarification regarding this drug.

Clarification from the Food and Drug Administration from its official page on X

Sources:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/tumor-agnostic drugs.html

https://www.moh.gov.sa/Ministry/MediaCenter/News/Pages/News-2018-11-29- 007.aspx

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/ يفكارتیف – لوأ – ءاود – يضقی – ىلع – ناطرسلا /com.alseyassah://https

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-oncology-drug targets-key-genetic-driver-cancer-rather-specific-type-tumor

https://x.com/saudi_fda/status/1068522102636986368?s=48&prefetchTimestamp=1734 334899971