Takeda says its cancer drug Adcetris gets European backing in for hodgkin lymphoma
pharmafile | July 6, 2016 | News story | Research and Development | European Commission, Takeda, drug trial, lymphoma
Takeda Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4502) said the European Commission has extended the marketing authorization for its Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) to treat CD30+ Hodgkin lymphoma.
The decision follows a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in May.
A trial demonstrated that patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who received Adcetris as consolidation therapy immediately following ASCT lived significantly longer without disease progression compared to patients who received placebo.
Dirk Huebner, executive medical director, oncology therapeutic area unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical, said: “The Aethera Phase III data further reinforces the role of Adcetris in earlier line treatment and may offer new hope for post-transplant Hodgkin lymphoma patients. The European Commission decision is a significant milestone for patients who are at increased risk of relapse following stem-cell transplant as Adcetris provides a treatment where none currently exists.”
Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. There are two major categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished from other types of lymphoma by the presence of one characteristic type of cell, known as the Reed-Sternberg cell. The Reed-Sternberg cell expresses CD30.
Professor Andreas Engert, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, said: “Relapse is a devastating event for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and their families. Not only is the emotional impact significant, but the challenge of treating their disease becomes much greater. For the first time, physicians in the European Union will now have a well-tolerated and effective treatment option that may be used immediately post-transplant to reduce the risk of relapse for Hodgkin lymphoma patients at increased risk.”
Anjali Shukla
Related Content
EC approves Pfizer’s Emblaveo for multidrug-resistant infection treatment
Pfizer has announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation for Emblaveo (aztreonam-avibactam) …
Genentech’s Columbi meets primary endpoint in phase 3 trial for lymphoma treatment
Genentech, part of the Roche Group, has announced that its phase 3 STARGLO trial has …
MHRA approves Takeda’s Hyqvia for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy treatment
Takeda has announced that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted marketing …
