Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Novartis (NVS, Financial) remains focused on its mission of treating patients inflicted with dreadly diseases such as cancer and helping them to find the best medicine available in the market. The firm is well known for its research and developmental efforts, and in the quest to treat cancer the pharma major has recently come up with the advanced lung cancer drug, Zykadia, which was approved by the USFDA in April last year. But the drug is still awaiting approval in the European Union. On last Friday, Novartis announced that it had received recommendation from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for a final approval from the European Union. So, how could such a drug aid in providing better health to affected cancer patients, and how important is this new drug for Novartis’ sales growth. Let’s dig in further to find out.
A breakthrough treatment for lung cancer
This drug is to treat adult patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were previously being treated with Crizotinib. ALK-positive lung cancer is the reason behind the deaths of at least 85-90% of lung cancer patients and thus this drug discovery by the Swiss drugmaker can be considered as a breakthrough treatment likely to be offered to such needy patients.
Currently there are highly limited treatment options available for patients with ALK + NSCLC, but if this drug receives approval from the EU, it would be the first-in-kind treatment option to address the unmet medical need of patients suffering from such a type of lung cancer in the 28 countries of the EU. And now with the recommendation from the CHMP, things are working out to be highly positive for Novartis’ new drug, though it’s standard procedure for EU approval to come within three months of such a positive recommendation.
If the lung cancer of the patient is being driven by the rearrangement noticed in the ALK gene which increases the growth of cancer cells phenomenally, this drug could prove to be effective in stopping such a disease progression- something which is sadly not possible under the current treatment options available. The only feasible option that has been designed till date for use in NSCLC struck patients is Pfizer’s (PFE, Financial) Xalkori which also serves as an ALK inhibitor. Now with the Novartis drug joining such a product range after seeking a series of approvals in the EU, it will open up better options for treatment of such type of lung cancer in the long run.
Zykadia (Ceritinib) is to be taken orally, and it works well in inhibiting the ALK gene which generally combines with other genes leading to a "specific abnormal fusion protein" generation which promotes growth of such type of lung cancers. Hence, the approval of Zykadia is a piece of good news for NSCLC affected patients who have been on the look for more options for treatment to lead a healthier life for a longer term.
Garnering market share for Novartis
Besides receiving approval for this novel drug in the U.S., Novartis has also received regulatory approval in several other parts of the world including Mexico, South Korea, Chile, Guatemala and Ecuador. The regulatory approval is not only in pending stage in the EU but also in North America, South America, Central America and Asia. It is being predicted by analysts worldwide that this drug could boost the profits of the company in all geographies considerably where it will garner better market share than its rivals since this drug is being showcased as a breakthrough solution offered to the ALK+ lung cancer patients. Novartis has thus proved to be a pioneer in such an oncological research study.
During the press release by the Swiss drug-maker on last Friday, Alessandro Riva, MD, Global Head, Novartis Oncology Development and Medical Affairs, stated – “As a leader in the development of precision oncology medicines, Novartis is committed to developing and bringing to market new treatments for patients with ALK+ NSCLC. This positive CHMP opinion for Zykadia brings us one step closer to providing the lung cancer community with new hope in the fight against this terrible disease…”
Final word
Being a leader in oncology medicine development, Novartis seems committed to serve the ailing patients at large and also bolster the growth in its top and bottom line. Let’s stay tuned and wait for the EU approval for Zykadia which would become the blockbuster drug of Novartis in the region.
