{
  "id": 3120717,
  "title": "How much of a cancer drug is too much? Patients, researchers challenge FDA-approved dosages",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/how-much-of-a-cancer-drug-is-too-much-patients-researchers-challenge",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-24T21:40:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-cancer-drug-patients-fda-dosages.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Patients and researchers are questioning the FDA-approved dosages of cancer drugs, such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab. These drugs, which treat various types of cancer, can cause severe side effects, including damaged thyroid glands and dryness in the body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a full year of treatment for these drugs, but some healthcare professionals in countries like Canada, Israel, and Sweden are giving lower doses, shorter periods, or less frequent intervals. In India, oncologists have found that as little as one-twelfth of the labeled dosage of nivolumab can have a significant impact on cancer treatment. A KFF survey found that 43% of U.S. adults have skipped their medication due to cost, and a Vanderbilt University study revealed that 30% of cancer drug prescriptions went unfilled. Pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to reduce dosages, as higher sales mean more profit. Studies estimate that if minimum necessary dosages had been used, the U.S. healthcare system could have saved $31 billion in 2024. Oncologists like Dr. Matthew Goetz and Dr. Kathy Miller are starting patients on lower doses, but drugmakers argue that changing the dosage could compromise therapeutic effects.",
  "summary": "Northwestern University economist Chuck Manski studies decision-making amid uncertainty. That prepared him better than many other cancer patients to decide whether to stay on an immunotherapy treatment that was making him very ill.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}