BRIEF—Novartis files for Japanese approval of Kymriah

Swiss pharma giant Novartis says that it has filed its chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy tisagenlecleucel, known as Kymriah overseas, for certain types of leukemia and lymphoma, marking the first CAR-T submission in Japan.

The Swiss pharma giant is reported to be working with the Japanese government and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) toward introducing a drug payment mechanism based on patient outcomes for a new and innovative therapy, asking for payment from only those who benefit for the therapy.

In August last year, Novartis won the race to market a CAR T-cell-directed therapy, receiving US Food and Drug Administration approval for its Kymriah.