New leukaemia drug 'could replace chemotherapy'

A new breakthrough cancer drug has been discovered to treat leukaemia, as an alternative to chemotherapy.

Irish patients were among 391 people to trial the new drug, which boosts survival to 90%, up from 81% for conventional treatment.

A total of 500 Irish people are diagnosed with leukaemia a year and the new drug, called Ibrutinib, could be used if chemotherapy fails to produce the desired results, or if they are resistant to it.

Dr Patrick Thornton from the Royal College of Surgeons said that it could replace the need for chemotherapy entirely and completely change how the disease is treated.