European approval procedure for the six-month dosage of Eligard successfully completed
The European approval procedure for the six-month dosage of Eligard has been successfully completed, paving the way for the launch of this dosage of the drug for the treatment of prostate cancer in Europe.
The European approval procedure for the six-month dosage of Eligard has been successfully completed, paving the way for the launch of this dosage of the drug for the treatment of prostate cancer in Europe.
After subcutaneous injection of this dosage, the drug is released steadily over a period of six months. Eligard is the only six-month depot product of a drug against prostate cancer available in Europe. The one-month and three-month products have been available in all major European countries.
MediGene acquired the licence for pan-European commercialisation of Eligard from the US company Atrix Laboratories in April 2001, and successfully took the drug through the approval procedure, first of all in Germany, and afterwards, in co-operation with Astellas in Europe. Eligard has been marketed in Europe by MediGene's licensee Astellas Pharma Europe since May 2004.
The six-month dosage was launched in Germany in March 2007. Other available formulations include the one-month and three-month depot products.
"There has been tremendous response since the launch of the Eligard six-month formulation earlier this year in Germany," said Dr Peter Heinrich, ceo of MediGene. "We are now glad that we can offer this dosage to patients across Europe."