Water-Soluble Version of Etoposide Now Available

PRINCETON, NJ--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has received FDA clearanceto market Etopophos (etoposide phosphate) for injection, a newwater-soluble version of its anticancer drug VePesid (etoposide).

Etopophos can be administered in as few as 5 minutes, representinga marked advantage over the 30- to 60-minute infusion time requiredfor VePesid, the company said.

Etopophos can also be given to patients in higher concentrationsthan VePesid, reducing by up to 1/50th the fluid volume infused.

The new version of the drug has the same indication as VePesid:to be used in combination with other approved chemotherapy agentsas first-line treatment in patients with small-cell lung cancerand in combination with other approved chemotherapy agents inpatients with refractory testicular tumors who have already receivedappropriate surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

"This new version of etoposide offers greater convenienceto both patients and the medical professionals who care for them,"said Michelle Daniels, MD, director, Medical Information, Bristol-MyersSquibb Oncology. "Patients may now spend a lot less timein the clinic receiving their treatment."