FDA Approves Farydak For Treating Multiple Myeloma

The Food and Drug Administration Feb. 23 approved Farydak (panobinostat) for treating patients with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.

Farydak, which is marketed by Switzerland-based Novartis AG, works by inhibiting the activity of enzymes, known as histone deacetylases (HDACs), the agency said. This process may slow the overdevelopment of plasma cells in multiple myeloma patients or cause these dangerous cells to die.

Farydak is the first HDAC inhibitor approved to treat multiple myeloma, the FDA said. It is intended for patients who have received at least two standard therapies, including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent. Farydak is to ...