The European Commission Approves ALOXI® (palonosetron HCl) Injection to Prevent Nausea and Vomiting Due to Chemotherapy in Children as Young as One Month

LUGANO, Switzerland, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

The European approval of ALOXI^®  for paediatric use follows the FDA approval in May 2014 of ALOXI^®  for paediatric use in the US 

Helsinn Group, the Swiss Group focused on building quality cancer care, today announces that the European Commission has endorsed the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use's (CHMP) Opinion recommending the approval of ALOXI^® (palonosetron HCl) injection for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy and the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, in paediatric patients one month of age and older.

This is the first European approval of a product for the prevention of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children aged one to six months. Since the childhood cancer incidence tends to be higher within the first 3 years of life, this approval offers an important therapeutic option to children, and especially young infants, undergoing cancer chemotherapy.

Since its implementation, the European Paediatric Regulation has substantially increased the availability in Europe of high quality, ethically-researched medicines for use in children.

CINV is among the most common side effects following therapy in patients with cancer. In clinical trials in paediatric patients, CINV frequency varied from 35 to 80 percent depending on the age of the patient, the site of tumour and the type of chemotherapy given. Helsinn has conducted four paediatric clinical trials with ALOXI^®. The approval of the paediatric indication is based on a randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority pivotal trial comparing single-dose intravenous (IV) ALOXI^® 20 mcg/kg given 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy to a standard of care IV ondansetron regimen of 0.15 mg/kg given 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy followed by ondansetron infusions four and eight hours after the first dose. Within the first 24 hours after chemotherapy, Complete Response, defined as no vomiting, no retching and no antiemetic rescue medication, was achieved in 59.4 percent of patients who received ALOXI^® 20 mcg/kg and in 58.6 percent of those who received the ondansetron regimen. Therefore the study met its primary endpoint.

Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were comparable across both treatments, with headache being the most frequent event in the palonosetron group. Although paediatric patients were administered a higher dose per kg than adults to prevent CINV, palonosetron safety profile was consistent with its established profile in adults.

Riccardo Braglia, CEO of Helsinn Group, said: "The European Commission's approval of ALOXI^® injection for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting in children aged one month or more is an important validation of Helsinn's position as a world-leading company in cancer supportive care and of its development expertise. This approval will give another treatment option for physicians when treating childhood cancer, in particular for the fragile infancy group."

About the Helsinn Group 

Helsinn is a family run, privately owned pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care with a large portfolio of products. Founded in 1976 with headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, Helsinn also has operating subsidiaries in Ireland, the USA and a representative office in China. Helsinn's business model is focused on the licensing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional supplement products in the therapeutic area of cancer care.

Helsinn Group in-licenses early-to-late stage new chemical entities, completing their development by performing pre-clinical/clinical studies as well as associated manufacturing activities. Helsinn then prepares necessary regulatory filings in order to achieve marketing approvals worldwide. Helsinn's products are out-licensed to its global network of marketing and commercial partners that have been selected for their local market knowledge. Helsinn supports these partners by providing a full range of product and scientific management services, including commercial, regulatory, and medical marketing advice. Helsinn has built a large product portfolio of cancer care products with the alliance of over 65 global partners. In March 2013, Helsinn established a new commercial organization within its subsidiary, Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc., in order to conduct direct sales and marketing activities within the U.S. market. Helsinn's products are manufactured according to the highest quality, safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland from where they are then supplied worldwide to customers. 

Further information on Helsinn Group is available at http://www.helsinn.com

For more information please contact: 

Helsinn Group 

Paola Bonvicini
Head of Communication & Press Office
PH +41-91-985-21-21
info-hhc@helsinn.com

For media / external enquiries 

Consilium Strategic Communications  
Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / Matthew Neal / Laura Thornton
Tel: +44-(0)203-709-5700
Helsinn@consilium-comms.com