Amgen's Kyprolis approved in Europe

US biotech major Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) yesterday announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Kyprolis (carfilzomib) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

Kyprolis is the first irreversible proteasome inhibitor approved in the European Union for use in combination treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma, the company said.

“The approval of Kyprolis in combination provides physicians and patients across Europe with an important new treatment option for relapsed multiple myeloma, helping to address a real unmet need for this rare blood cancer,” said Sean Harper, executive vice president of R&D at Amgen. “Multiple myeloma is a complex blood cancer that often becomes resistant to treatment, which is why there is a need for new therapeutic options that provide deep and durable responses to extend the time patients live without their disease progressing,” Dr Harper noted.