New Liquid Formulation Speeds Cancer Therapy Administration

A new liquid drug formulation from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. will allow some cancer patients to see their therapy administered faster.

Teva’s bendamustine hydrochloride (Treanda) injections treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has progressed during or within 6 months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen, according to a company press release.

Preparation time will be reduced for health care professionals with the drug’s new liquid formulation, which removes the step of reconstituting lyophilized powder with sterile water prior to adding the dose of medicine to the infusion bag and administering it to a patient.

“With the new liquid formulation of Treanda, we are not only building on the legacy of this important product, but also furthering Teva’s commitment to continuously improving our medicines,” said Paul Rittman, vice president and general manager of Teva Oncology, in a press release.

The most common side effects associated with Treanda included nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss.