European Medicines Agency (EMA) News Channel
EMA has started a review of the multiple sclerosis medicine Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) following new reports of immune-mediated conditions (caused by the body’s defence system not working properly) and problems with the heart and blood vessels with the medicine, including fatal cases. EMA has recommended granting a marketing authorisation in the European Union for a genetically modified product for beta-thalassaemia, a rare inherited blood condition that causes severe anaemia. Zynteglo is intended for adult and adolescent patients 12 years and older who need regular blood transfusions to manage their disease and have no matching donor for a stem cell transplant. A survey launched by EMA in September 2016 shows that validation issues occur in 90% of initial marketing authorisation applications (MAAs). They create additional workload for companies and potential delays at a critical moment for the timely start of the procedure. To make the validation process more efficient, predictable and easier to navigate, EMA is encouraging applicants to submit Package a new validation checklist as part of the MAA dossier. EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended for the first time an adjunct treatment to insulin in the form of a tablet for certain patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Dapagliflozin is already authorised in the European Union as Forxiga and Edistride for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. In November 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the capability of five additional EU Member States to carry out good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections at a level equivalent to the United States (US). Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Latvia were included into the mutual recognition agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) on 16 November and Estonia on 28 November 2018. The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended granting a marketing authorisation for the gene therapy Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec), for the treatment of adults and children suffering from inherited retinal dystrophy caused by RPE65 gene mutations, a rare genetic disorder which causes vision loss and usually leads to blindness. The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended granting a marketing authorisation for Dengvaxia (dengue tetravalent vaccine (live, attenuated)), for the prevention of dengue caused by dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 in people who are between 9 and 45 years old, live in an endemic area and already had a prior dengue virus infection.