Takeda and Millennium Announce European Conditional Marketing Authorisation for ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin)

OSAKA, Japan & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502, “Takeda”) and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted conditional marketing authorisation for ADCETRIS^® (brentuximab vedotin) for two indications: (1) the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30 positive Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, and (2) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL).

“The European conditional marketing authorisation of brentuximab vedotin represents a significant step in Takeda’s oncology franchise commitment to developing innovative medicines that make a real difference to patients’ lives”

On 19 July 2012, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion for conditional marketing authorisation for brentuximab vedotin, based on a positive benefit-risk assessment in the above indications. Granting of conditional marketing authorisation by the EC means that there are specific obligations to provide additional clinical data at a later stage to confirm the positive benefit-risk balance.

Takeda intends to launch brentuximab vedotin across Europe, with the first launches planned in the coming weeks.

“Brentuximab vedotin has been shown to offer a high overall response rate, including durable complete responses in both of its indications,” said Professor Andreas Engert, M.D., University Hospital of Cologne, Germany. “Conditional marketing authorisation by the European Commission signifies an important advancement in the treatment of adult patients with these rare CD30 positive hematological cancers who are relapsed or refractory and previously had limited options.”

“The European conditional marketing authorisation of brentuximab vedotin represents a significant step in Takeda’s oncology franchise commitment to developing innovative medicines that make a real difference to patients’ lives,” said Trevor Smith, Head of Commercial Operations, Europe & Canada, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. “Brentuximab vedotin is a new targeted therapeutic option for adult patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma or relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and Takeda looks forward to making it available in Europe.”

Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, a defining marker of classical HL and sALCL. The marketing authorisation, which will be held by Takeda Global Research & Development Centre (Europe) Ltd, is valid in all EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and is based on data from clinical trials and other supportive data in relapsed or refractory HL and relapsed or refractory sALCL.

A Summary of Product Characteristics will be available on the EMA website shortly.

Notes to Editors

About ADCETRIS^®(Brentuximab Vedotin)

ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalisation into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

ADCETRIS was designated as an orphan medicinal product in Europe for both HL and ALCL by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on 15 January 2009.

ADCETRIS is a registered trademark of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company and Seattle Genetics are jointly developing brentuximab vedotin. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialisation rights and the Takeda Group has rights to commercialise brentuximab vedotin in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and the Takeda Group are funding joint development costs for brentuximab vedotin on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where the Takeda Group will be solely responsible for development costs.

About Hodgkin Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. There are two major categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished from other types of lymphoma by the presence of one characteristic type of cell, known as the Reed-Sternberg cell. The Reed-Sternberg cell expresses CD30.

About Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

ALCL is a type of aggressive T-cell lymphoma, comprising about 3 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in adults and between 10 and 30 percent of all NHL in children. There are two distinct forms/types of ALCL, including primary cutaneous ALCL and systemic ALCL (sALCL). sALCL is a clinically aggressive, systemic lymphoma that primarily involves lymph nodes and expresses CD30.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to strive towards better health for patients worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate Website, www.takeda.com.

About Millennium

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass., was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. in May, 2008. The Company’s research, development and commercialisation activities are focused in oncology. Additional information about Millennium is available through its website, www.millennium.com.

¹ Jona A, Younes A. Novel treatment strategies for patients with relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Blood Rev. 2010;24:233-238.