Oops, you're using an old version of your browser so some of the features on this page may not be displaying properly.

MINIMAL Requirements: Google Chrome 24+Mozilla Firefox 20+Internet Explorer 11Opera 15–18Apple Safari 7SeaMonkey 2.15-2.23

EMA Recommends Granting a Marketing Authorisation for Pegylated Liposomal Formulation of Irinotecan for Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

It is intended in combination with 5-FU and LV in patients who have progressed following gemcitabine based therapy
28 Jul 2016
Cytotoxic Therapy
Gastrointestinal Cancers

On 21 July 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending granting a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Onivyde (pegylated liposomal formulation of irinotecan), intended for the treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Onivyde was designated as an orphan medicinal product on 9 December 2011. The applicant for this medicinal product is Baxalta Innovations GmbH.

Onivyde will be available as a concentrate for solution for infusion (5.0 mg/ml). The active substance of Onivyde is irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor (ATC code: L01XX19) which binds reversibly to the topoisomerase I DNA complex and induces single strand DNA lesions blocking the DNA replication fork.

Onivyde contains irinotecan in a pegylated liposomal formulation.

When added to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 2,400 mg/m2 and leucovorin (LV) 400 mg/m2, Onivyde improved survival compared with 5-FU 2,000 mg/m2 and LV 200 mg/m2.

The most common side effects are diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, neutropenia, fatigue, asthenia, anaemia, stomatitis and pyrexia.

The full indication is:

"Treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), in adult patients who have progressed following gemcitabine based therapy."

It is proposed that Onivyde be prescribed by physicians experienced in the use of anti-cancer therapies.

Detailed recommendations for the use of this product will be described in the summary of product characteristics, which will be published in the European public assessment report and made available in all official European Union languages after the marketing authorisation has been granted by the European Commission.

Last update: 28 Jul 2016

This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.

For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please check our Privacy Policy.

Customise settings
  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and you can only disable them by changing your browser preferences.