PIXUVRI in Israel is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (aggressive B-cell NHL) who have received not more than three previous courses of treatment.
The benefit of pixantrone treatment has not been established in patients when used as fifth line or greater chemotherapy in patients who are refractory to last therapy.
In Israel, PIXUVRI will be distributed and marketed by the Neopharm Group, Israel’s second largest pharmaceuticals and health products marketer, once PIXUVRI is included in the Israeli National Health Basket of drugs by the MOH.
"The approval of PIXUVRI in Israel provides patients with aggressive B-cell NHL who have failed second- or third-line therapy a new approved option, where none existed before, that can effectively treat their disease with manageable side effects," said Abraham Avigdor, M.D., Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel and Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
"Patients who have relapsed after second-line therapy have a poor survival outcome. It is vital to have additional treatment options available, like PIXUVRI, so we can provide these patients the best care possible and help them battle their disease."
"We are pleased to continue to expand the availability of PIXUVRI as interest in this new therapy continues to grow," said James A. Bianco, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CTI. "We feel PIXUVRI fills an important role in the treatment paradigm for patients with aggressive B-cell NHL, and we are focused on increasing access to the treatment for as many patients as possible."
Separately, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) and the healthcare insurance board College voor zorgverzekeringen (CVZ) of the Netherlands have approved funding for PIXUVRI as an add-on drug for patients who need a third- or fourth-line treatment option for aggressive B-cell lymphoma.
This follows the inclusion of PIXUVRI on the HOVON (Haemato Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands) treatment guidelines, effective June 1, 2014. The inclusion on the Dutch list of reimbursed drugs makes PIXUVRI the first registered and reimbursed medicine for the treatment of patients with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell NHL in the Netherlands.