The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Janssen-Cilag International of its decision to withdraw its application for an extension of the therapeutic indication for the centrally authorised medicine Velcade (bortezomib).
Janssen-Cilag International NV on September 2, 2011, submitted an application to extend the marketing authorisation for Velcade in combination with rituximab for the treatment of patients with relapsed follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma. At the time of the withdrawal the application was under review by the Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
Velcade was first authorised in the European Union on April 26, 2004 and is indicated in combination with melphalan and prednisone to treat patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy with a bone marrow transplant. Velcade is also indicated as monotherapy to treat progressive multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least one prior therapy and have already had or are unsuitable for a bone marrow transplant.
In its official letter, the company stated that it has decided to withdraw the application after the CHMP indicated that the data provided do not support a positive benefit-risk balance. Velcade continues to be authorised in the currently approved indications.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai
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