Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology and haematology, has launched the broad-based Fusilev (levoleucovorin) marketing campaign directed towards oncologists, nurses, office practice managers and pharmacists. Its new Fusilev.com website, features health care professional educational tools and resources, digital and online campaign, and peer-to-peer live educational programmes.

In conjunction with the launch of this new marketing campaign, and in an effort to further increase our market penetration, Spectrum has made the strategic decision to dedicate additional existing sales resources to Fusilev. Augmenting the company's dedicated Fusilev sales force, all Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan) Injection for Intravenous Use representatives will now also promote Fusilev. This strategy will leverage all existing health care professional relationships and effectively increase Spectrum's Fusilev dedicated sales resources by approximately 50 per cent with no significant increase in operating expenses.

"Physicians continue to increasingly use Fusilev because of its purity, clinical profile, and supply reliability," said Rajesh C Shrotriya, MD, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. "Strong commercial support for Fusilev has been rewarded by increased market penetration and sustained customer loyalty. We believe this campaign will continue to raise awareness of the Fusilev brand as well as grow the folate analog market."

Fusilev, a folate analogue, is approved as a ready-to-use solution ( Fusilev Injection), and as a freeze-dried powder ( Fusilev for Injection). Fusilev is indicated for use in combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. Fusilev is also indicated for rescue after high-dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma. Fusilev is also indicated to diminish the toxicity and counteract the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosage of folic acid antagonists. Fusilev, under various trade names, is marketed outside the United States by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda.

Fusilev is dosed at one-half the usual dose of racemic d,l-leucovorin. Fusilev is contraindicated for patients who have had previous allergic reactions attributed to folic acid or folinic acid. Due to calcium content, no more than 16-mL (160-mg) of levoleucovorin solution should be injected intravenously per minute. Fusilev enhances the toxicity of fluorouracil. Concomitant use of d,l-leucovorin with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV patients was associated with increased rates of treatment failure in a placebo-controlled study. Allergic reactions were reported in patients receiving Fusilev. Vomiting (38 per cent), stomatitis (38 per cent) and nausea (19 per cent) were reported in patients receiving Fusilev as rescue after high-dose methotrexate therapy. The most common adverse reactions ( > 50 per cent) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving Fusilev in combination with 5-fluorouracil were diarrhea, nausea and stomatitis. Fusilev may counteract the antiepileptic effect of phenobarbital, phenytoin and primidone, and increase the frequency of seizures in susceptible patients.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Colorectal Cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. There were about 141,210 new cases of Colorectal Cancer diagnosed in 2011, almost 400 per day. 1,110,000 people are currently living with colorectal cancer in the US and 49,380 deaths were estimated in 2011, almost 136 per day.