On November 15, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eisai Co.’s Halaven (eribulin mesylate), which is an injectable drug, as a treatment for metastatic breast-cancer patients who have received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens.

In a news release published Monday by the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second leading cancer-cause of death amongst women. According to the study, approximately 207,000 women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Derived from a sea sponge, Halaven is a synthetic form of a chemotherapeutically active compound which is said to work by killing cancer-causing cells. According to US News & World Report, the drug has been established as an effective treatment following a study which followed 762 women with metastatic breast cancer who had had at least two prior chemotherapies for their late-stage disease. Median survival was 13.1 months among those who took Halaven, compared to 10.6 months among those who didn't get the drug.

The most common adverse reactions reported following use of Halaven include a decrease in white blood cells, nerve damage, constipation, and hair loss.