On 25 January 2024, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product efbemalenograstim alfa (Ryzneuta), intended to reduce the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia due to chemotherapy.
The applicant for this medicinal product is Evive Biotechnology Ireland Limited.
Ryzneuta will be available as a 20 mg solution for injection. The active substance of Ryzneuta is efbemalenograstim alfa, an immunostimulant/colony stimulating factor (ATC code: L03AA18) that belongs to the class of haematopoietic growth factors (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor; G-CSF) which increase the production and differentiation of mature and functionally active neutrophils from bone marrow precursor cells.
The benefit of Ryzneuta is the reduction in the duration of severe neutropenia during the first cycle of chemotherapy compared to placebo and, to a similar extent, pegfilgrastim (a pegylated G-CSF).
The most common side effects concern musculoskeletal pain, such as bone and back pain, arthralgia, and pain in extremities.
The full indication is:
- Ryzneuta is indicated for the reduction in the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in adult patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy for malignancy (with the exception of chronic myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes).
- Ryzneuta should be initiated and supervised by physicians experienced in oncology and/or haematology.
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.
Summaries of positive opinion are published without prejudice to the Commission decision, which will normally be issued 67 days from adoption of the opinion.