Pfizer cancer compounds accepted for review by EMA

Pfizer has announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted two of its new oncology compounds for review.

The regulatory body has ratified the company's submissions for the advanced non-small cell lung cancer drug crizotinib and the chronic myeloid leukaemia therapy bosutinib.

Crizotinib has shown promise in early clinical studies and is set for further evaluation in a pair of phase III trials, while bosutinib is thought to offer potential efficacy in blocking the ability of cancer cells to survive and propagate.

Dr Andreas Penk, president of Pfizer Oncology Europe, said this brings the two drugs a step closer to being made available to patients in need.

"These filings underscore Pfizer's commitment to delivering innovative therapeutic treatment options targeting various tumour types and improving the outcome for cancer patients worldwide," he added.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Pfizer will ally with Qiagen to develop a new companion diagnostic test for another investigational lung cancer therapy, dacomitinib.