The drug, Iressa, is developed by the British-based company AstraZeneca. Associated Drug Co. Ltd is AstraZeneca’s

representative in Malta.

The drug comes in the form of a tablet that is taken once daily, certainly more comfortable for the user than chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It has already been approved in countries like the United States and Australia.

Forty to 50 per cent of the patients in clinical trials who were given Iressa as a last resort showed improvement. The gefitinib in the drug succeeded in stabilising the disease and also helped shrink the tumour. Fifteen to 20 per cent of the patients were super responsive – they were dying and felt better after eight days.

Contacted by The Malta Independent, oncology specialist Dr Stephen Brincat said that Iressa is an interesting drug because it has virtually no side effects, unlike chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

This family of drugs shows hope as it works because it is a treatment that works on one pathway, unlike chemotherapy.

Twelve patients in Malta have used Iressa so far. They were all in the advanced stage of the

disease.

One of the patients has spent a year symptom free, although Dr Brincat said he was probably aided by the therapy he had received earlier which had helped him get on remission.

These 12 patients were given the drug as part of the compassionate usage scheme, provided free by AstraZenica.