Germany's Bayer and Boehringer both get CHMP backing

Among a string of positive recommendations revealed last Friday (July 26) by the European Medicines Agency’s Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), there was good news for Germany’s Bayer (BAYN: DE) and family owned drug major Boehringer Ingelheim (as well as for Novartis and Takeda; see separate stories).

First up, Bayer HealthCare announced that VEGF Trap-Eye (aflibercept solution for injection) has been recommended for approval by the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the treatment of visual impairment due to Macular Edema Secondary to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO). The decision of the European Commission is expected in the second half of 2013.

“This is great news for patients in Europe suffering from CRVO, which is a debilitating disease affecting patients' central vision,” said Kemal Malik, a member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global development, adding: “The potential loss of vision impacts patients‘independence and not only affects patients but also their families. We hope to be able to offer these patients and their physicians this new treatment option shortly.”