December 13, 2013 - 8:16 AM
SAN ANTONIO - An experimental drug is showing promise against a hard-to-treat form of breast cancer. It's the first big result from a novel way to test drugs that quickly separates winners from duds.
Doctors say the results on veliparib (veh-LIP-uh-rib) suggest it deserves further testing in a big study aimed at winning federal approval.
The drug was tested on small groups of women who were quickly given surgery to see its effect on their tumors. Each person's results helped inform how the next women in the study were treated.
Researchers say this learn-as-you-go approach should get promising treatments to market faster and at a lower cost.
The study was discussed Friday at a conference in San Antonio.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013