Takeda debuts Hodgkin lymphoma drug Adcetris in UK

Japan’s largest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals (TYO: 4502), this morning announced the launch UK of Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin), the first new treatment licensed in 30 years for adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30 positive Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) following an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or at least two previous therapies, when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, and marking the start of the European roll-out for the drug.

Adcetris, which was developed under a deal with USA-based Seattle Genetics (Nasdaq: SGEN) and gained US approval in August 2011, was granted a conditional marketing approval in Europe by the European Commission late last month (The Pharma Letter November 1), following results for a single-agent therapy in the phase II clinical trials in patients with relapsed or refractory HL and sALCL. It is also used in adult patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL).

Sally Penrose, chief executive of the Lymphoma Association, commented: “Medical advances have meant that most people with lymphoma are now treated successfully. However, every year there is a significant minority of people for whom the initial treatment doesn’t work or in whom the lymphoma returns. A new therapy which delivers effective treatment with manageable side effects offers real hope for these patients and their families and is an exciting development.”