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Updated January 14, 2015.
Question: Is the Prostate Cancer Vaccine Available?
The much-touted prostate cancer vaccine, also known by its trade name Provenge, now has approval from the FDA for sale in the United States. Many doctors believe that this treatment represents a big step forward for prostate cancer therapy.
So is it available to the public?
Answer:
The prostate cancer vaccine, better known as Provenge, is currently available on a limited basis in the United States following FDA approval on April 29, 2010.
The company who produces the vaccine, Dendreon, has made the vaccine initially available only at certain large, specialized hospitals around the country. Most of these hospitals were involved in initial clinical trials of Provenge.
The company has stated that in order to make the vaccine in quantities large enough to roll out to the whole country, they need several months to ramp up their production. After this production escalation period, the vaccine should be available at many more sites.
As with any other treatment, the prostate cancer vaccine is intended for use in only a certain subset of men, and the decision to use the vaccine should only be made after close consultation with your doctor.
Sources:
Kumar, Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, 7th ed. 2005.
FDA Press Release, April 29, 2010
Updated January 14, 2015.
Question: Is the Prostate Cancer Vaccine Available?
The much-touted prostate cancer vaccine, also known by its trade name Provenge, now has approval from the FDA for sale in the United States. Many doctors believe that this treatment represents a big step forward for prostate cancer therapy.
So is it available to the public?
Answer:
The prostate cancer vaccine, better known as Provenge, is currently available on a limited basis in the United States following FDA approval on April 29, 2010.
The company who produces the vaccine, Dendreon, has made the vaccine initially available only at certain large, specialized hospitals around the country. Most of these hospitals were involved in initial clinical trials of Provenge.
The company has stated that in order to make the vaccine in quantities large enough to roll out to the whole country, they need several months to ramp up their production. After this production escalation period, the vaccine should be available at many more sites.
As with any other treatment, the prostate cancer vaccine is intended for use in only a certain subset of men, and the decision to use the vaccine should only be made after close consultation with your doctor.
Sources:
Kumar, Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease, 7th ed. 2005.
FDA Press Release, April 29, 2010
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