Astellas' gastric cancer therapy gets UK regulator's nod (updated)

Astellas Pharma

14/08/2024 12:15

(Adds details on drug in paragraphs 2 and 3)
       Aug 14 (Reuters) - Britain's health regulator said on
Wednesday it has approved Japan-based Astellas Pharma's  4503.T 
therapy to treat a type of gastric cancer.
    The monoclonal antibody, to be sold under brand name Vyloy,
can recognise and attach itself to certain cancer cells to
destroy them.
    The regulator approved the therapy in combination with other
anti-cancer medicines for adults with stomach or
gastro-oesophageal junction cancer.
    The gastro-oesophageal junction is where the oesophagus
joins the stomach.
    In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined
to approve the therapy, citing issues related to a third-party
manufacturer.
    The company has resubmitted its application, and the U.S.
health regulator is set to make its decision by Nov. 9. 
    

 (Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini
Ganguli)
 ((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))