New leukaemia drug has given hope to patients as it kills nearly 90 per cent of their cancer in the first dose.

Gazyva, which so powerful it can send patients into shock, comes with a whopping 42,000 dollar bill, News.com.au reported.

Though the drug has been approved for use in Australia but not yet subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and has some serious side effects including increased risk of infections, including lower white blood cell counts and reduce the ability of the blood to clot, fever, cough, and muscle and joint pain.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year showed Gazyva delayed the progression of the cancer in patients using the drug in combination with an older chemotherapy by 26.7 months, 15 months longer than progression free survival in patients using standard treatment.

Source: Medindia