Closed Drug Transfer for Oncology Therapeutics

The administration of drugs deemed hazardous to humans has been receiving increasing amounts of scrutiny in recent years as the dangers of these substances become more clearly understood. For caregivers and their patients, the therapeutic area that is at the forefront of attempts to mitigate exposure to cytotoxic drugs is clinical oncology, a field that - in spite of promising new drugs based on therapeutic antibodies - continues to rely heavily on antineoplastics, a class that includes alkylating agents and antimetabolites, to treat a wide range of cancers. Regulatory and industry efforts to create standards and procedures designed to protect workers and patients from accidental and incidental exposure to cytotoxics are being driven by data that suggests a causal link between exposure and health issues. Studies of nurses who work with cytotoxic drugs on a regular basis have found a statistically higher rate of spontaneous abortion. Several companies are responding to this unmet need by commercializing devices for closed transfer of these drugs. As the market evolves and user acceptance increases, so too will the impact of these products on oncology therapy protocols and drug delivery.