Abraxis BioScience is developing drug compounds to treat cancer. The first product is being used to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer. Breast cancer is most common form of cancer in women in the United States and is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women (lung cancer is the first). Breast cancer is the most common cause of death for women aged 45 to 55 years. Early diagnosis and good treatment options have improved survival.

Despite new treatments, breast cancer can reappear (called recurrence or relapse). Often when recurrence or relapse occurs, the cancer has metastasized. Metastatic disease means the disease has spread to other organs of the body.

Metastatic disease can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or some combination of these treatments. Treatment may lead to long-term survival, or can delay disease progression, relieve cancer-related symptoms, and improve a patient’s quality of life.

New therapies are being developed to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer. The most common drug therapies are taxanes, which are natural anticancer drugs derived from yew trees. Taxanes are particularly effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Abraxis is investigating and developing new compounds for other cancers including lung, head and neck, malignant melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.