FDA Approves New Drug For Advanced Melanoma

opdivo-86174642The FDA has released a press statement on Opdivo (nivolumab)for advanced Melanoma skin cancer this past week. The FDA  indicated that they have granted accelerated approval for this medication. This means patients undergoing suboxone treatment will be have access to this medication at an earlier date than previously expected.

“This is very promising information,” states Dr. Adam Mamelak, a board-certified Dermatologist in Austin, Texas. Further research in ways to combat late-stage and more aggressive melanoma skin cancer is extremely important. “It’s an unfortunate but all too common situation. Patients are often unaware that the irregularly appearing mole on their skin is acutally a skin cancer. They present to the dermatologist late into the cancer’s progression, once the cancer has spread beyond the skin.”

Opdivo works by blocking the actions of a protein called PD-1. PD-1 inhibits a patient’s own immune system from attacking the malignant melanoma cells in their body. By stopping PD-1’s actions, Opdivo allows the body to fight off and destroy the advanced melanoma cancer.

“There has been tremendous advancement in melanoma therapies in the last few years,” says Dr. Mamelak. In fact, there have been six other new melanoma treatments approved by the FDA since 2011!  These include therapies such as the immune system activator, CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab (Yervoy), and the melanoma cell killer, BRAF targeting vemurafenib (Zelboraf).

Opdivo is designed for patient with advanced melanoma, where the cancer has metastasized beyond the skin, or cannot be treated with surgery. Find out more information on this new and cutting-edge form of cancer treatment here.

Contact Us

If you are concerned about a suspicious mole on your skin, or have questions about skin cancer, please contact us today!

Join Us

googleplus FB twitter instagram yelp

 

 

×
We Are Proud Members Of:
Specials
Book Online

Latest Specials & Promotions

View All
Locations
×

Book appointment by

Choose your area

  • Baton Rouge

    6411 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 - (225) 303-9500
  • Lafayette

    1245 Camellia Boulevard, Lafayette, LA 70508 - (337) 839-2773
  • Bee Cave & Lakeway

    3944 RR 620 S. Bldg. 6, Bee Cave, TX 78738 - (512) 366-8568
  • Old Metairie

    701 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70005 - (504) 836-2050
  • Uptown

    3434 Prytania St., New Orleans, Louisiana 70115 - (504) 897-5899
  • Metairie

    111 Veterans Boulevard, Metairie, LA 70005 - (504) 838-8225
  • SBA Dermatology

    1900 Saint James Place, Houston, TX 77056 - (713) 850-0240
  • North Austin

    12319 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, Texas 78758 - (512) 837-3376
  • Central Austin

    3705 Medical Parkway, Austin, Texas 78705 - (512) 454-3781
  • Dripping Springs

    13830 Sawyer Ranch Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 - (512) 829-0009
  • Pflugerville

    1601 E. Pflugerville Parkway, Pflugerville, Texas 78660 - (512) 252-3700
  • Steiner Ranch

    5145 North FM 620 Rd, Austin, Texas 78732 - (512) 266-0007
  • Helyn Alvarez, MD

  • Daniel Barron, PA-C

  • Suzanne Bruce, MD

  • Daniel A. Carrasco, MD

  • Kristy Charles, MD

  • Ryan Couvillion, MD

  • Megan Couvillion, MD

  • Gretchen Donnes, PA-C

  • Leigh Ellen Eubanks, MD

  • Elizabeth Foley, DO

  • Natalie Gibson, PA-C

  • Miriam L. Hanson, MD

  • Alicia Haslauer, PA-C

  • Agezi Igboko, FNP-C

  • Haneen Issa, PA-C

  • Jennifer Jordan, PA-C

  • Ted Lain, MD, MBA

  • Adam J. Mamelak, MD

  • Sharon Meyer, MD

  • Lesley Ott, FNP-C

  • Melanie Pickett, MD

  • Jeffrey C. Poole, MD

  • Chad Prather, MD

  • Maria “Gabi” Prudhomme, FNP-C

  • Marcela Ramirez, FNP-C

  • Diana Reyes, PA-C

  • Israel Rodriguez, PA-C

  • Katharine Saussy, MD

  • Megan Shelton, MD

  • Candace Thrash, MD

  • Mamina Turegano, MD

  • Jennifer Vickers, MD

  • Micah Williams, PA-C

  • Laura Williams, MD