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New Treatment Options Featured in NCCN Antiemesis Guidelines

JENKINTOWN, PA, April 7, 2004 – On March 11, 2004, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of nineteen of the world’s leading cancer centers, announced a major update of the NCCN Antiemesis Clinical Practice Guidelines.

The NCCN Antiemesis panel recently updated its guidelines for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting to add the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist palonosetron (Aloxi™, MGI Pharma Inc.) to multiagent antiemetic regimens for use with highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy regimens. The panel recommends palonosetron as the preferred 5-HT3 receptor antagonist for moderately emetogenic chemotherapy regimens.

“NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology are widely recognized as the standard for clinical policy in oncology. Additionally, managed care companies are using them increasingly to help establish coverage policy,” said William T. McGivney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN. “As such, the NCCN recognizes its responsibility to provide up-to-date information to inform decision-making. Thus, the NCCN Guidelines process is an ongoing, continual process.”

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology are available free of charge on CD-ROM. These can be ordered from NCCN by calling 215-690-0300. The guidelines can also be found at www.nccn.org.