First cancer drug from Amgen/Astellas JV approved in Japan

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has granted marketing approval for Blincyto (blinatumomab) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Blincyto was developed in Japan by Amgen Astellas BioPharma (AABP), a joint venture between US biotech Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) and Japanese drug major Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503). The marketing application was submitted to the MHLW in January this year.

"As proof-of-concept for our bispecific T cell engager technology, Blincyto has laid the groundwork for Amgen to deliver on our passion of addressing cancer by exploring numerous biologic pathways and therapeutic modalities," said Dr David Reese, executive vice president of R&D at Amgen.