FDA Approves Surgical Sealant for Lung Cancer
The new sealant, which is "painted" on the lung and activated by light, is made by Focal Inc. (Lexington, MA). The product forms a sealant via chemical and photochemical polymerization processes.
Currently, air leaks are closed with standard techniques such as suturing, stapling or, in some patients, leaving the air leaks alone. The new FocalSeal-L Surgical Sealant is intended to be used after these standard tissue closure techniques.
FDA approval was based on a review of clinical studies of safety and effectiveness conducted by the manufacturer and on the recommendation of the General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of FDA's Medical Devices Advisory Committee, which evaluated the product in early May. The product was given expedited review by the FDA because of its potential benefit in reducing the number of patients who experience such air leaks.
The primary study involved 180 patients at four medical centers in the United States. Most of the patients were being surgically treated for lung cancer. In 125 of the patients, air leaks were treated with a combination of standard techniques and Focal Seal; in 55 patients, air leaks were treated with standard methods alone. The studies showed that 39% of patients treated with Focal Seal and standard techniques were air leak-free through hospital discharge compared to 11% of patients treated with standard techniques alone. Side effects were similar in both groups, but there was a higher incidence of infection in patients treated with FocalSeal (7.2% vs. 3.6%).
As a condition of approval, Focal Inc. will continue to follow patients in the study for five years to see if there is an impact on cancer progression.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration