logo-loader

AstraZeneca gets approval for two cancer and asthma treatments in Japan

Last updated: 14:10 19 Jan 2018 GMT, First published: 08:10 19 Jan 2018 GMT

child with asthma
Approvals; like London buses…

FTSE 100 pharma giant AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) has received approvals from Japanese authorities for two of its drugs.

First up is Lynparza which has been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for use as a maintenance therapy in women with ovarian cancer who responded to chemotherapy.

READ: Immuno-oncology: What does 2018 have in store for Big Pharma and their cancer immunotherapies?

Lynparza is the first poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor to be approved in Japan.

Trials showed that by taking a Lynparza tablet twice a day ovarian cancer patients could live longer without their disease worsening.

“We are proud to bring this important first-in-class treatment to women with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer in Japan who currently have very few treatment options,” said Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Head of the Oncology Business Unit at AstraZeneca.

Japanese regulators also approved Fasenra as an add-on treatment for asthma patients who still experience symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness despite being on high-dose corticosteroid inhalers or other asthma controllers.

READ: AstraZeneca submits supplemental new drug application for Tagrisso in Japan

Back in November, the drug was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration while earlier this month it received the green light from European authorities.

“The approval of Fasenra, our first respiratory biologic medicine, in Japan closely follows the recent US and EU decisions and brings us another step closer to achieving our ambition of transforming care for severe asthma patients around the world,” said chief medical officer Sean Bohen.

Astra shares nudged 1.4% higher to £50.49 on Friday afternoon.

Chesnara reports strong 2023 results with improved cash generation and...

Chesnara PLC (LSE:CSN) chief executive Steve Murray discusses the company's full-year results for 2023 with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion, describing them as strong and particularly highlighting £53 million in commercial cash generation and a dividend coverage of around 150%. The company has...

59 minutes ago