First commercial launch of kidney cancer drug Fotivda

UK-based EUSA Pharma and the USA’s AVEO Oncology (Nasdaq: AVEO) have announced the first commercial launch of Fotivda (tivozanib) with the initiation of product sales in Germany.

Approved in the European Union, Norway and Iceland in August, tivozanib is indicated for the first line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) and for adult patients who are vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and mTOR pathway inhibitor-naïve following disease progression after one prior treatment with cytokine therapy for aRCC.Tivozanib is an oral, once-daily, potent and highly-selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR-TKI). EUSA Pharma is the licensee for tivozanib in Europe, North and South Africa, Latin America and Australasia.

Analysts have suggested the drug will target a $600 million commercial opportunity in first-line RCC setting alone. AVEO’s shares were lifted 1.35% to $3.01 following the announcement of the Germany launch, rising a further 1.33% to $3.05 in after-hours trading.