Genzyme gets expanded approval for Thyrogen from FDA

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. The Food and Drug Administration has granted expanded approval for Genzyme’s thyroid cancer drug Thyrogen, according to published reports.

The new indication allows for Thyrogen (thyrotrophin) to be used in combination with radioiodine, a radioactive iodine used to treat thyroid cancer, to destroy the remaining thyroid tissue in patients who have had their cancerous thyroids removed.

Thyrogen was initially approved in the U.S. in 1998 for use as a diagnostic tool in the management of patients being tested for the recurrence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. The drug helps increase the sensitivity of testing while allowing patients to avoid the potentially debilitating symptoms of thyroid hormone withdrawal.

“This new indication extends the significant benefits of Thyrogen to patients during their initial treatment for thyroid cancer, in addition to its current use in follow-up diagnostic procedures to detect recurrence,” said Mike Heslop, senior vice president and general manager of Genzyme’s endocrine business.