Monthly Archives: February 2012

There are literally over a hundred types of cancer that have been identified by the American Cancer Society to date. In addition, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease, and accounts for roughly 575,000 deaths per year.

Just a couple of days ago, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of a new drug designed to fight advanced cases of basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Erivedge (generic name: vismodegib) is intended to treat cases of basal cell carcinoma where the cancer has already spread throughout the body, or metastasized, and are unable to be surgically removed. Erivedge is the first advanced skin cancer drug to ever pass the stringent FDA approval process.