Lymphoma treatment receives positive CHMP opinion

The European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has given a positive opinion to Bayer Schering Pharma AG for its Zevalin product to be used as consolidation therapy for patients suffering from follicular lymphoma.

Zevalin – which is used as first-line consolidation therapy after a patient responds to a first-line induction treatment such as chemotherapy – is thought to extend the response duration of the induction treatment.

According to Bayer Schering Pharma AG, the positive response of the CHMP to the Zevalin product is an “important milestone” for the drug.

“This therapy option will provide clinicians with a treatment regimen that truly could help many of their patients to an extended progression-free survival,” said Dr Gunnar Riedmann, a member of Bayer Schering Pharma AG’s board of management.

It is expected that if the product receives a favourable review from the European commission later in 2008, it would get marketing authorisation as a treatment for follicular lymphoma in all European Union member states.

The Bayer Group markets around 5,000 products, including health care and nutrition items.