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Novartis wins EU approval
for multiple myeloma drug Farydak
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[September 04, 2015]
ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis AG said
on Friday it received European Union approval for Farydak, a treatment
for multiple myeloma that the company said gives new options for adult
patients whose disease has progressed following standard therapy.
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 Novartis received similar approval for Farydak from the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration in February for treating multiple myeloma, a
form of blood cancer that arises from plasma cells found in bone
marrow.
Analysts at Bank Vontobel wrote that they estimate global peak
annual sales at $250 million.
The EU approval is for use of Farydak capsules in combination with
bortezomib, sold by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.'s oncology unit as
Velcade, and the anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone.
The Basle-based company said Farydak represents the first therapy
for multiple myeloma that inhibits the activity of certain enzymes,
potentially slowing over-development of plasma cells. This can crowd
out other healthy blood cells from bone marrow, leading to anemia or
bone and kidney problems.
The disease affects about 84,000 people in Europe. About 21,700
Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, with nearly 11,000
dying from the disease annually.
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(Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
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