Britain Gets Cancer ‘Wonder Drug’

A drug designed to attack cancer by inhibiting a key enzyme to signals cells to multiply became available Monday across Britain.

Already licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sutent (sunitinib) has been licensed in Britain to treat two kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, while early trials suggest it might also be effective against breast, lung and pancreatic cancers, The Times of London reported Monday.

The new pharmaceutical, manufactured by Pfizer Inc., also deprives tumors of specific nutrients they need by preventing the growth of blood vessels, becoming the first drug to combine both modes of action, the newspaper said.

Sutent will initially cost each patient about $4,500 monthly, therefore probably limiting its use.