Leo Pharma receives CHMP backing for European Picato approval

Leo Pharma's new gel-based therapy for actinic keratosis Picato has been recommended for European approval by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

The European Medicines Agency committee has issued a positive opinion on the use of Picato for the cutaneous treatment of adult patients with non-hyperkeratotic, non-hypertrophic forms of actinic keratosis.

During phase III trials, the gel has been shown to deliver a significant reduction in actinic keratoses within only a few days of commencing treatment, with a number of product strengths set to be made available.

The CHMP recommendation is one of the final steps towards gaining European Commission approval and comes after the drug was ratified by regulators in the US and Brazil.

Kim Domela Kjoeller, senior vice-president for global development at Leo Pharma, said: "Picato represents a new treatment option of just two or three days to combat the growing problem of actinic keratosis."

This comes after the firm recently announced plans to partner the Brazilian Society of Dermatology to raise awareness of skin diseases in the South American nation.