Sichuan Huiyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHA: 688553), a China-based pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received marketing approval for its plerixafor from the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA). The drug is approved for use in combination with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into the peripheral blood of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM) patients. This process facilitates the collection of HSCs and their use in autologous transplantation.
Plerixafor’s Mechanism and Global Approvals
Plerixafor, a CXCR4 chemokine antagonist, works by blocking the CXCR4 receptor and promoting the mobilization of HSCs from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. It was first approved in the US in 2008 with orphan drug designation (ODD) status. The drug has since gained approvals in 18 countries, including the US, Canada, and the Netherlands, marking its global recognition and use in the treatment of specific cancer types.
Expanding Access to Plerixafor in Europe
The approval from the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) is a significant step for Sichuan Huiyu Pharmaceutical as it expands the accessibility of plerixafor to patients in Italy and potentially other European countries. This approval not only provides an additional treatment option for NHL and MM patients but also highlights the company’s commitment to bringing innovative therapies to market.-Fineline Info & Tech
