Arsenic trioxide Intravenous and Balversa

• Generic Name: arsenic trioxide
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Trisenox

Arsenic trioxide injection is used together with another medicine (eg, tretinoin) to treat newly-diagnosed low-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a type of leukemia (cancer of the blood cells). It is also used to treat APL in patients who have not responded to other medication regimens. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.

Arsenic trioxide belongs to the general group of medicines called antineoplastics. It interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by arsenic trioxide, other unwanted effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor.

Before you begin treatment with arsenic trioxide injection, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits of arsenic trioxide as well as the risks of using it.

Arsenic trioxide is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

• Generic Name: erdafitinib
• Dosage Forms: tablet, film coated
• Other Brand Names: Balversa

Balversa (erdafitinib) is used to treat bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), or cannot be removed with surgery.

Balversa is used only if your cancer has a specific genetic marker (an abnormal "FGFR" gene). Your doctor will test you for this gene.

Balversa is usually given after other treatments have failed.

Balversa was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an "accelerated" basis. In clinical studies, some people responded to this medicine, but further studies are needed.