ICLUSIG® Tablets 15 mg Now Available in Japan for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Philadelphia Chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

On November 18, 2016 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. reported that it has commenced sales as of November 21 in Japan of ICLUSIG Tablets 15 mg (ponatinib hydrochloride), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) indicated to treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are resistant or intolerant to previous treatments and patients with recurrent or refractory Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) (Press release, Otsuka, NOV 18, 2016, View Source [SID1234516673]).

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Although TKIs are used as a first-line treatment for CML and Ph+ ALL, mutation of BCR-ABL genes can develop during the treatment period and indicates resistance to the currently used TKI. In addition, intolerance to the side effects of existing TKI treatments can lead to a discontinuation of treatment.

ICLUSIG, discovered in the U.S. by ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a TKI that targets BCR-ABL expressed in CML and Ph+ ALL. This drug is a new chemically synthesized oral TKI, and is specifically designed to inhibit mutated TK caused by a T315I mutation which induces resistance to the currently used TKI. ICLUSIG demonstrates efficacy in CML patients with resistance to or with intolerance to currently available TKIs. ICLUSIG was approved in the U.S. in 2012, in Europe in 2013, and in 2014 Otsuka obtained the rights to commercialize and develop ICLUSIG in ten Asian countries and regions.*2
ICLUSIG was designated as an orphan drug in Japan and regulatory approval was granted in September 2016. New Drug Applications have been submitted in South Korea and Taiwan