BeiGene's Tevimbra gains approval in Israel

The Israeli Ministry of Health (IL MOH) has approved Tevimbra (tislelizumab) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OESCC) after prior systemic chemotherapy, the drug’s developer, Sino-American biotech BeiGene (BGNE; HKEX), has announced.

"In Israel, the incidence of cancer continues to rise, with solid tumors representing a substantial health burden and where access to these inhibitors remains limited for the patients. The recent approval of Tevimbra by the Israeli Ministry of Health provides a new, innovative treatment for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), offering renewed hope and potentially improved outcomes for those affected by these challenging malignancies,” said Itzik Mizrahi, country general manager of BeiGene Israel, adding; "We are pleased to have received approval in Israel, which represents a significant step forward in our mission to bring innovative treatments to cancer patients around the world."

BeiGene noted that it is focused on expanding the availability of Tevimbra in Israel. The company has recently submitted applications for first- and second-line treatments for both squamous and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and plans future filings for first-line esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OESCC) and gastric cancer (GC).