Palonosetron, a second-generation 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, is at least as effective as Kytril (granisetron), a first-generation 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, in preventing nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy up to one day after treatment.  One to five days after treatment, palonosetron remains effective in a significantly larger percentage of patients than does Kytril.

Many chemotherapy patients are subject to vomit-inducing anticancer treatment, which typically contains the drugs cisplatin or anthracycline/cyclophosphamide.  The standard preventative treatment, Kytril, works in just over 50% of patients when administered with dexamethasone prior to chemotherapy.  However, the effect wears …