Novartis treatment achieves EU approval

A new anti-cancer treatment for leukaemia sufferers has received EU approval as a treatment for patients who are resistant or intolerant to other treatments.

Tasigna by Novartis achieves a positive response in nearly half of sufferers battling the chronic phase of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), often within three months.

Following the approval, the treatment will now be available in Britain and across the member states. Tasigna has now been approved in 37 countries, including the US.

David Epstein, president and chief executive officer of Novartis Oncology, said: “Tasigna drives home our commitment to develop compounds to fulfil unmet medical needs by pursuing indications for patients with limited treatment options.”

Novartis reports that it currently has nearly 140 projects in development. It has previously created “breakthrough” medicines including Gleevec/Glivec for leukaemia patients, breast cancer treatment Femara and Zometa, which can be used to treat bone cancers.