Leukaemia Drug Given the Green Light

FDA declined a marketing application for the drug in 2005.

The US Food and Drug Administration has given the green light to Talon Therapeutics' orphan drug Marqibo to treat a rare type of leukaemia after the drug was fast tracked through the agency's accelerated approval programme. 

Specifically, Marqibo (vincristine sulphate liposome injection) will treat the rapidly progressing type of blood and bone marrow cancer, known as Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, indicated for patients that have relapsed two or more times or failed at least two other therapies.