Merck & Co. Inc. drug received federal approval Friday to treat a slow-growing cancer that affects infection-fighting white blood cells.

as long as Merck makes money efficacy doesn't matter.
While some early trial results seem promising, Zolinza's effect on the larger cancer question remains to be seen, said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, the American Cancer Society's deputy chief medical officer. The pathway targeted by the drug is a relative newcomer in the cancer field, he added.

"There is a lot of excitement about targeted therapies. This is not the same type of mechanism as those other agents; nonetheless, any new approach to treating cancer -- any novel approach that uses a new pathway, that can be taken by mouth, has limited side effects -- merits more attention and hopefully will be successful over time," Lichtenfeld said.