The Company will launch both drugs in Switzerland shortly. The Swiss Ministry approved AmBisome , the Company's liposomal antifungal drug, for the treatment of severe blood-borne fungal infections in patients where amphotericin B was insufficiently effective or who suffer from kidney damage. In the United States, NeXstar Pharmaceuticals and marketing partner Fujisawa USA submitted a wide-ranging New Drug Application in November 1996. DaunoXome is now approved in 16 countries, including the United States. The Company is conducting additional clinical trials to test DaunoXome 's use as a therapy for lymphoma, breast cancer and other cancers.
Liposomes are microscopic fat bubbles that can be used to encase a drug.
NeXstar Pharmaceuticals has developed liposomes that specifically target the delivery of the drug to disease or infection in the body. AmBisome is the only true liposomal form of amphotericin B, a potent but toxic antifungal agent, approved for clinical use. DaunoXome 's liposomal formulation of the anticancer drug daunorubicin is designed to maximize the selectivity of daunorubicin for solid tumors in the body. NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an integrated pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of products to treat life-threatening diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases. The Company currently markets two drugs, AmBisome and DaunoXome .