Boehringer Ingelheim files for EU approval of lung cancer drug

Boehringer Ingelheim has submitted a European marketing authorisation application for afatinib, a new treatment for EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

The European Medicines Agency filing is based on the positive data seen in the phase III Lux-Lung 3 registration trial, which showed that the drug was able to deliver unprecedented efficacy improvements compared to chemotherapy.

Afatinib will be the first oncology compound submitted for European regulatory approval by Boehringer Ingelheim and features a novel mode of action that could offer various benefits for patients.

As well as delaying disease progression and improving symptoms, an accompanying patient questionnaire showed that the therapy was associated with a better quality of life.

Professor Klaus Dugi, corporate senior vice-president for medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "The positive clinical evidence for afatinib, coupled with its novel mode of action, could make this an outstanding treatment option, providing much-needed benefits for lung cancer patients."

Earlier this month, the company announced the groundbreaking launch of Syrum, the first social game produced by a pharmaceutical company.