Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
Return to PR Newswire homepage
  • News
  • Products
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All Public Company News
      • All Multimedia News
      • View All News Releases

      • Regulatory News

      • D/A/CH Regulatory News
      • UK Regulatory News
      • View All Regulatory News

  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads & Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking & Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers & Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalisation
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls & Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil & Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defence
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking & Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers & Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines & Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics & Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture & Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewellery
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks & Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels & Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Animal Welfare
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Economic News, Trends & Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • Labour & Union
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Public Safety
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multimedia
  • Disclosure Services
  • SocialBoost
  • Rooms
    • MediaRoom
    • ESG Rooms
  • AI Tools
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PR Newswire UK provides press release distribution, targeting, monitoring, and marketing services
  • Send a Release
    • Phone

    • +44 (0)20 7454 5110 from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us

      +44 (0)20 7454 5110
      from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • News in Focus
    • Browse News Releases
    • Regulatory News
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multimedia
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • AI Tools
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists

Janssen Receives Positive CHMP Opinion Recommending VELCADE® (bortezomib) for use in Mantle Cell Lymphoma


News provided by

Janssen-Cilag International NV

19 Dec, 2014, 14:02 GMT

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

This image opens in the lightbox
Janssen Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies) (PRNewsFoto/JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES)

BEERSE, Belgium, December 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Janssen-Cilag International NV (Janssen) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending the approval of VELCADE® (bortezomib) in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone, for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who are unsuitable for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.[1]


     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140324/NY88746LOGO )

MCL is a rare and aggressive type of blood cancer that can be challenging to treat and is associated with a poor prognosis.[2],[3] The positive opinion of the CHMP was based on data from the Phase 3 study, LYM-3002. In the European Union (EU), VELCADE is currently indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), another rare blood cancer, either as monotherapy or in combination with of other treatment regimens.[4]

"At Janssen, we are committed to continuously developing therapeutic solutions to treat relevant, haematologic diseases like MCL," said Thomas Stark, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Janssen Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "This positive opinion brings us one step closer to offering additional treatment options with VELCADE for patients and physicians, and we are delighted with this recommendation."

Study Efficacy Results[5]

LYM-3002 was a randomised, open-label, active-controlled, multicentre, international, prospective Phase 3 study including 487 patients with newly diagnosed MCL who were ineligible, or not considered, for bone marrow transplantation.

The results showed significant benefits when treating newly diagnosed patients with MCL using a VELCADE-based combination (VR-CAP[*]), compared to a widely used standard of care combination not including VELCADE (R-CHOP[**]). The VR-CAP regimen significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS), the primary endpoint, and showed improvements across a range of secondary endpoints.[5] An independent review committee reported the increase in PFS to be 59 percent (median 24.7 vs. 14.4 months; HR 0.63; p<0.001), whereas the study investigators reported the increase in PFS to be 96 percent (median 30.7 vs. 16.1 months; HR 0.51; p<0.001).[5]

Safety Results  

VR-CAP was associated with additional, but manageable, toxicity when compared to VR-CHOP.[5] Overall, among patients receiving VR-CAP compared to R-CHOP, serious adverse events (AE) were reported in 38 percent vs. 30 percent of patients and grade ≥3 AEs were reported in 93 percent vs. 85 percent. Discontinuations of treatment due to AEs were nine percent (VR-CAP) vs. seven percent (R-CHOP) and on-treatment drug-related deaths were two percent vs. three percent.[5]

The CHMP's positive opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to grant a label extension for medicines in the European Economic Area. A final decision on VELCADE's use in MCL by the European Commission is anticipated early next year.

About the CHMP  

The CHMP is the committee responsible for the scientific assessment of products seeking centralised marketing authorisation throughout the European Union. The positive opinion for VELCADE is now referred for approval to the European Commission (EC) who will decide on whether to follow its guidance and grant authorisation for commercialisation of VELCADE as a treatment option for MCL.  

About VELCADE (bortezomib)  

VELCADE is a medicine currently licensed in the EU for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), a blood-based cancer, and is currently indicated for:[4]

  • Use as monotherapy or in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with progressive MM who have received at least one prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
  • Use in combination with melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated MM who are not eligible for high dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
  • Use in combination with dexamethasone, or with dexamethasone and thalidomide, for the induction treatment of adult patients with previously untreated MM who are eligible for high dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

VELCADE contains an active substance called bortezomib and is the first in a specific class of medicines known as proteasome inhibitors. Proteasomes are present in all cells and play an important role in controlling cell function, growth and also how cells interact with other cells around them. Bortezomib reversibly interrupts the normal working of cell proteasomes, inducing the cancerous cells, to stop growing and die.[6]

VELCADE has a predictable safety profile and a favourable benefit-risk ratio. The most common side effects reported with VELCADE (bortezomib) include fatigue, gastrointestinal adverse events, transient thrombocytopenia and neuropathy.[4]

VELCADE is commonly used in the treatment of various stages of MM. The product is co-developed by Millennium, the Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. Millennium is responsible for commercialisation of VELCADE in the U.S.; Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies are responsible for commercialisation in Europe and the rest of the world. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. co-promote VELCADE in Japan. VELCADE is approved in more than 90 countries and has been used to treat more than 550,000 patients worldwide.

VELCADE in MCL  

In Europe, VELCADE is not currently licensed to treat MCL. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved VELCADE for the treatment of patients with MCL who have received at least one prior therapy, with a subsequent frontline treatment approval in October 2014 for VELCADE in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (VR-CAP). VELCADE has also been approved for the treatment of relapsed MCL in 53 additional countries, including Canada and Switzerland. If endorsed by the European Commission, the positive opinion from the CHMP recommending the approval of VELCADE for the treatment of MCL would provide an additional treatment option for MCL patients in the European Union.

About MCL  

MCL is considered a rare disease, characterised by high unmet need and small patient populations impacting fewer than 0.45 in 100,000 people in Europe and with a median age at diagnosis of 65.[7],[8] MCL is much more predominant in men than women and accounts for six percent of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.[9],[10] Median overall survival is typically four to five years, and only one to two years in patients following the first relapse.[11],[12] MCL typically involves the lymph nodes, but can spread to other tissues, such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen and gastrointestinal tract.[8] This challenging disease is associated with poor prognoses.

Janssen in Oncology  

In oncology, our goal is to fundamentally alter the way cancer is understood, diagnosed, and managed, reinforcing our commitment to the patients who inspire us. In looking to find innovative ways to address the cancer challenge, our primary efforts focus on several treatment and prevention solutions. These include disease area strongholds that focus on haematologic malignancies and prostate cancer; cancer interception with the goal of developing products that interrupt the carcinogenic process; biomarkers that may help guide targeted, individualised use of our therapies; and safe and effective identification and treatment of early changes in the tumour microenvironment.

About Janssen  

Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson are dedicated to addressing and solving the most important unmet medical needs of our time, including oncology (e.g., multiple myeloma and prostate cancer), immunology (e.g., psoriasis), neuroscience (e.g., schizophrenia, dementia and pain), infectious disease (e.g., HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and tuberculosis), and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes). Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop sustainable, integrated healthcare solutions by working side-by-side with healthcare stakeholders, based on partnerships of trust and transparency. More information can be found on http://www.janssen-emea.com. Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/janssenEMEA for our latest news.

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development.  The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events.  If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen-Cilag International NV, any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson.  Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; changes in behaviour and spending patterns or financial distress of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to governmental laws and regulations and domestic and foreign health care reforms; general industry conditions including trends toward health care cost containment; and increased scrutiny of the health care industry by government agencies. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2013, including in Exhibit 99 thereto, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov,http://www.jnj.com  or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies or Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.) 

[*]VELCADE, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (VR-CAP)

[**]Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP)

REFERENCES  

  1. Summary of Opinion (post-authorisation). Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Summary_of_opinion/human/000539/WC500179316.pdf. Accessed December 2014
  2. McKay P, Leach M, Jackson R, et al. Guidelines for the investigation and management of mantle cell lymphoma. Br J Haematol. 2012;159:405-26.
  3. Williams ME, Dreyling M, Winter J, Muneer S, Leonard JP. Management of mantle cell lymphoma: key challenges and next steps. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2010;10:336-46.
  4. VELCADE summary of product characteristics April 2014. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000539/WC500048471.pdf Last accessed November 2014.
  5. Cavalli F, et al. Randomized Phase 3 study of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone plus vincristine (R-CHOP) or bortezomib (VR-CAP) in newly diagnosed Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) patients (pts) ineligible for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(5, Suppl.): abstract 8500.
  6. VELCADE European Public Assessment Report (EPAR). Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/000539/human_med_001130.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124. Accessed November 2014.
  7. Smedby KE, Hjalgrim H. Epidemiology and etiology of Mantle Cell Lymphoma and other non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes. Semin Cancer Biol. 2011;21:293-8.
  8. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Mantle cell lymphoma facts. Available at: http://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/lymphoma/pdf/mantlecelllymphoma.pdf Accessed November 2013.
  9. The Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Classification Project. A Clinical Evaluation of the International Lymphoma Study Group Classification of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Blood 1997;89:3909-18.
  10. Vose JM. Mantle cell lymphoma: 2012 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and clinical management. Am J Hematol. 2012;87:604-9.
  11. Herrmann A et al. Improvement of overall survival in advanced stage mantle cell lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 2009; 27(4): 511-518
  12. Goy A, Bernstein SH, Kahl BS, et al. Bortezomib in patients with relapsed or refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma: updated time-to-event analyses of the multicenter phase 2 PINNACLE study. Ann Oncol. 2009;20:520-5.

Media Inquiries: 

Brigitte Byl
Mobile: +32-473-55-58-79
Email: bbyl@its.jnj.com

Investor Relations: 

Stan Panasewicz
Phone: +1-732-524-2524

Louise Mehrotra
Phone: +1-732-524-6491

PHEM/VEL/1114/0001
December 2014

Modal title

Contact PR Newswire

  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
    from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships

Products

  • Content Distribution
  • Multimedia Services
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®

About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Partnering Opportunities
  • Careers
  • APAC
  • APAC - Simplified Chinese
  • APAC - Traditional Chinese
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Middle East - Arabic
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States
  • Vietnam

My Services

  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Data Privacy

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via Privacy@cision.com 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact PR Newswire

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
+44 (0)20 7454 5110
from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 PR Newswire Europe Limited. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.