Family Support Latest treatment news DFMO DFMO (Difluoromethylornithine) was approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of relapse in December 2023. This finding was the result of a trial analysis led by Dr Giselle Sholler and the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium in collaboration with US WorldMeds, funded by the Beat Childhood Cancer Foundation and published in Journal of Clinical Oncology on Oct. 23. According to Sholler, the evidence provided by this study led directly to FDA approval. Her study showed four-year event free survival was 84% versus 72% in the DFMO and NO-DFMO groups, respectively. Overall survival was 96% versus 84% respectively. This means the risk of relapse was reduced by 15%. The licence holders of DFMO (brand name WILFIN) have now applied for registration of this drug in Australia. Usually, registration of a new drug takes around 18 months for approval. As a result, oncologists in Australia are reviewing options and it is hoped that an early access program might get established by the drug company prior to the registration process being completed. However, there is no certainty of this happening currently. Currently some families are accessing this drug in US via Dr. Sholler’s trial at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital . This is after front line treatment has been completed. DFMO is usually administered within 120 days of completing treatment. Currently the cost of the drug is being covered by the US license holder and some charities in the US have been providing some funding support but some costs still need to be covered. This situation may change. We are currently asking the government to support funding access to DFMO in the interim through a paid special access program (via TGA). Please see our joint announcement with ANZCHOG under our Advocacy section and if you would like to support our request, you can also read about how to do this there. Please contact Lucy at [email protected] if you would like more information. Manage Cookie Preferences