EU backs Novartis cancer treatment

Novartis has announced the backing of its Glivec (imatinib) cancer drug by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency.

The CHMP’s opinion will be used by the EC to reach a final decision on the approval of the treatment over the next few months. The drug treats solid tumour dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and haematologic malignancy Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphocytic leukaemia and if approved, could be beneficial for patients in the UK.

Few treatments are currently available for the two conditions, which rarely occur in patients but can be life-threatening when they do. Other applications of Glivec, including for myeloproliferative disorders, hypereosinophilic syndrome and systemic mastocytosis, are currently being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration.

“We are now finding that cancers and diseases of different origin and location can share common pathways that often respond to the same targeted treatment,” commented Diane Young, vice president and global head of clinical development for Novartis Oncology. “The positive CHMP opinion is hopeful news for patients who suffer from these rare diseases and have limited treatment options.”

Glivec is targeted at tyrosine kinase proteins that seem to take up pivotal roles in certain cancerous cells. Glivec has been shown to inhibit some of these proteins the two conditions in question, as well as other tyrosine kinases key to certain rare haematologic diseases and solid tumours.

Glivec is currently approved in over 90 countries, including the EU, US and Japan, for the treatment of all phases of Ph+ chronic myeloid leukaemia.

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