EU experts back wider use of Merck, J&J drugs
Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:59 PM ET
LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - A panel of European experts Thursday backed the wider use of Merck & Co Inc's (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Emend drug and Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Velcade, both of which are already approved in Europe.
Experts at the London-based European Medicines Evaluation Agency said Emend, a drug to combat nausea and vomiting in people undergoing cancer chemotherapy, should be given to patients taking treatments causing moderate nausea.
Velcade, meanwhile, was recommended for treating patients with progressive multiple myeloma -- a rare form of blood cancer -- who have received at least one prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for bone marrow transplantation.
Velcade was co-developed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc (MLNM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and J&J, with Millennium responsible for commercialising the product in the United States and J&J selling it in Europe and other markets.
Recommendations by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use are normally endorsed by the European Commission within 90 days. |
