Pfizer’s leukaemia drug receives EMA's positive opinion

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced a positive opinion regarding the conditional marketing authorization of Pfizer’s bosutinib in the European Union. The positive opinion for bosutinib is for the treatment of adult patients with chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP), and blast phase (BP) Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) previously treated with one or more tyrosine kinase inhibitor(s) (TKIs) and for whom imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib are not considered appropriate treatment options.

The recommendation was based on a phase 1 and 2 clinical trial called Study 200, which included over 500 patients with Ph+ CML with separate cohorts for chronic, accelerated and blast phase disease previously treated with one or more prior TKIs.

Conditional approvals in the EU are granted to medicinal products with a positive benefit / risk assessment that address unmet medical needs and whose availability would result in a significant public health benefit.

“We are very pleased with this positive recommendation on bosutinib by the CHMP. We believe that bosutinib, if approved by the European Commission, would represent an important option for patients with CML who have progressed on prior treatment and are not candidates for alternative treatments. The development of bosutinib is evidence of our commitment to bringing meaningful new medicines to patients with hematologic cancers. We believe many doctors and CML patients will find this treatment, if approved, to be a welcome addition, offering a distinct adverse event profile and a convenient once-daily dosing regimen.”

Mace Rothenberg, MD, senior vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Pfizer Oncology Business Unit.

CML accounts for 15 percent of all leukemia cases. Despite the availability of existing treatments for CML, there remains a need for additional treatment options. During the course of initial treatment some patients may never respond, may develop drug-resistant disease or may not be able to tolerate their therapy.

A decision regarding approval in the EU is expected in the coming months. Firstly, the CHMP’s positive opinion will be reviewed by the European regulatory body, the European Commission.

&nbsp,