FDA Approves Bristol Myers Squibb's Etopophos

Treating lung cancer and testicular tumors in patients who have not responded to other treatment.

It is used in combination with other cancer medications.

Etopophos is an antineoplastic. It works by stopping the tumor cells from dividing (mitosis), which prevents the spread of certain types of cancer.

ETOPOPHOS for Injection is indicated in the management of the following neoplasms:

Refractory Testicular Tumors-ETOPOPHOS for Injection in combination therapy with other approved chemotherapeutic agents in patients with refractory testicular tumors who have already received appropriate surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic therapy.

Small Cell Lung Cancer-ETOPOPHOS for Injection in combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents as first-line treatment in patients with small cell lung cancer.

Etoposide phosphate (Eposin®, Etopophos®, Vepesid®, VP-16®) is an inhibitor of the enzyme topoisomerase II. It is used as a form of chemotherapy for malignancies such as lung cancer, testicular cancer, lymphoma, non-lymphocytic leukaemia, and glioblastoma multiforme. It is often given in combination with other drugs.
Chemically it derives from podophyllotoxin, a toxin found in the American Mayapple.

Etoposide is used alone or in combination with other chemotherapies to treat testicular cancer that has not responded to other treatment and small cell lung cancer. Etoposide works by slowing cancer cell growth. It is also commonly known as VP-16.