WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration has approved Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Ixempra monotherapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer whose tumors are resistant or refractory to anthracyclines, taxanes and capecitabine.

The FDA has also granted approval of Ixempra in combination with capecitabine for the treatment of patients with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer resistant to an anthracycline and a taxane or whose cancer is taxane-resistant and for whom further anthracycline therapy is contraindicated.

BMS anticipates Ixempra will be available soon.