Singapore: The ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan has approved a drug for the treatment of patients with unresectable differentiated thyroid carcinoma, according to an announcement made by the Bayer Healthcare.

The orphan drug that has received approval is oral multi-kinase inhibitor Nexavar (sortafenib tablets) that treats thyroid cancer.

Dr Joerg Moeller, Member of the Bayer HealthCare Executive Committee and Head of Global Development said that the approval of the drug would be instrumental in treating patients, who previously lacked therapeutic options for this disease.

Nexavar is already approved in 100 countries worldwide, for hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma treatment.

Japan approved the drug upon evaluation of the phase III drug trials that involved assessment of performance of the drug in 417 patients who had not received any chemotherapy. The side effects of the drug too were analysed. The results were found to be consistent with the known profile of sorafenib.

Nexavar, that is proved to inhibit both cell proliferation and angiogenesis of cancerous cells is also evaluated to treat other forms of cancer.