US FDA approves new drug for advanced soft tissue sarcoma

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved Votrient to treat patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have previously received chemotherapy. Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, and other tissues. Votrient is a pill that works by interfering with angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels needed for solid tumors to grow and survive. A rare cancer with many subtypes, soft tissue sarcoma occurs in about 10,000 cases annually in the United States. More than 20 subtypes of sarcoma were included in the clinical trial which has led to the approval of Votrient. According to the FDA, the most common side effects in Votrient- treated patients were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, high blood pressure, decreased appetite, vomiting and headache.