CHMP recommends Unituxin (dinutuximab) for neuroblastoma in children-United Therapeutics

The CHMP has recommended granting a marketing authorisation for Unituxin (dinutuximab) from United Therapeutics for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that most often occurs in young children. Unituxin is to be used in children who have responded to an induction treatment with chemotherapy, followed by myeloablative therapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation.

Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that forms from immature nerve cells. It is usually seen as a lump in the abdomen or around the spine and typically occurs in children under five years of age. In many cases it is present at birth, but is diagnosed only later when the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body and the child begins to show symptoms of the disease. Patients with neuroblastomas classed as �high risk� have a lower survival rate than for other neuroblastomas, and Unituxin provides a much-needed treatment option to prolong survival in this group of patients.

Comment: Unituxin was approved by the FDA in March 2015.