EU Panel Backs Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Drug For Approval

By Reuters Staff

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drug company Roche said on Friday a European Union committee recommended its MabThera subcutaneous treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

MabThera is currently delivered by an intravenous infusion which takes 2-1/2 hours to complete.

In contrast, the new MabThera subcutaneous formulation can be delivered over approximately five minutes, Roche said.

Roche said the opinion of the EU Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) was based primarily on data from a phase III study, with a final decision from the European Commission expected in coming months.

The Commission generally follows committee recommendations, though it is not obliged to.

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