Novartis leukaemia drug trial results support NICE recommendation

Novartis Pharmaceuticals has reported successful phase III trial results for its leukaemia drug Arzerra, providing support to a recommendation for its development from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Arzerra is specifically designed to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). A study involving 477 individuals with an average age of 67 who had been diagnosed with the disease found that administration of the drug helped to lengthen their lives for longer than other treatments that are currently available, including chlorambucil.

NICE recently issued a final appraisal determination that gave support to the development of Arzerra.

Lead author of the study, Professor Peter Hillmen of St James' University Hospital in Leeds, commented: "Finding effective treatments with clinically acceptable safety profiles for elderly patients with CLL and for those with co-existent chronic and potentially life-threatening conditions continues to be challenge."

Initially, Arzerra was being developed by GlaxoSmithKline, but is now being marketed by Novartis and Genmab.