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Regulatory update – GSK and Genmab announce European submission to regulatory authorities for Arzerra® (ofatumumab) as 1st line treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

Posted: 4 October 2013 | | No comments yet

GlaxoSmithKline plc and Genmab announced the submission of a variation to the Marketing Authorisation to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the use of Arzerra…

GlaxoSmithKline logo

GlaxoSmithKline plc and Genmab A/S [OMX: GEN] announced today the submission of a variation to the Marketing Authorisation to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the use of Arzerra (ofatumumab) in combination with an alkylator-based therapy, to be used for treatment of CLL patients who have not received prior treatment and are inappropriate for fludarabine-based therapy.

The submission is based primarily on results from an international, multi-centre, randomised Phase III study of ofatumumab in combination with chlorambucil versus chlorambucil alone in more than 400 patients with previously untreated CLL. Headline results from this trial were announced in May, 2013 and the full study results have been submitted for presentation at the 2013 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December.

About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

CLL is the most common form of leukaemia in adults. In Europe, the incidence rate is 4.92 per 100,000 or approximately 11,019 new cases each year1. At present, no curative chemotherapy is available.

About Arzerra (ofatumumab)

Ofatumumab is not approved or licensed anywhere in the world for use in patients who have not received treatment for CLL. For the approved indication, please visit: http://us.gsk.com/html/medicines/index.html for full US Prescribing Information and http://health.gsk.com/ for the EU Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).

Ofatumumab is a human monoclonal antibody which targets an epitope on the CD20 molecule encompassing parts of the small and large extracellular loops2. Ofatumumab is being developed under a co-development and commercialisation agreement between Genmab and GlaxoSmithKline.

Genmab A/S

Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated human antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Founded in 1999, the company’s first marketed antibody, ofatumumab (Arzerra®), was approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in patients who are refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab after less than eight years in development. Genmab’s validated and next generation antibody technologies are expected to provide a steady stream of future product candidates. Partnering of innovative product candidates and technologies is a key focus of Genmab’s strategy and the company has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For more information visit www.genmab.com.

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