OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSIP) announced today that its international partner for Tarceva® (erlotinib), Roche, informed OSI that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending approval of Tarceva as monotherapy for maintenance treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with stable disease following four cycles of standard platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. A final decision is expected from the European Commission within 45 days.
“Advanced lung cancer is an aggressive disease and when the cancer grows or spreads the health of patients deteriorates rapidly. By giving Tarceva earlier after chemotherapy, instead of waiting for the disease to progress, we could help more people live longer without their disease getting worse”
“Advanced lung cancer is an aggressive disease and when the cancer grows or spreads the health of patients deteriorates rapidly. By giving Tarceva earlier after chemotherapy, instead of waiting for the disease to progress, we could help more people live longer without their disease getting worse,” said Professor Federico Cappuzzo, M.D., Head of Oncology Unit, Livorno Hospital, Italy and principal investigator of the SATURN trial.