FDA Accepts for Review Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Response on ZEVALIN as a Class 1 Submission, and Establishes September 7, 2009 as Decision Date
ZEVALIN is currently FDA approved and marketed by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, including patients who have rituximab-refractory follicular non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
About ZEVALIN®
ZEVALIN® (ibritumomab tiuxetan) is a form of cancer therapy called radioimmunotherapy and is indicated as part of the ZEVALIN therapeutic regimen for treatment of relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell NHL, including patients with rituximab-refractory follicular NHL. ZEVALIN is also indicated, under accelerated approval, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory, rituximab-naïve, low-grade and follicular NHL based on studies using a surrogate endpoint of overall response rate. It was approved by the FDA in February of 2002 as the first radioimmunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of NHL.
Rare deaths associated with an infusion reaction symptom complex have occurred within 24 hours of rituximab (Rituxan®) infusions. Yttrium-90 ZEVALIN administration results in severe and prolonged cytopenias in most patients. Severe cutaneous and mucocutaneous reactions have been reported. The most serious adverse reactions of the ZEVALIN therapeutic regimen were primarily hematologic, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Infusion-related toxicities were associated with pre-administration of rituximab. The risk of hematologic toxicity correlated with the degree of bone marrow involvement prior to ZEVALIN therapy. Myelodysplasia or acute myelogenous leukemia was observed in 2 percent of patients (8 to 34 months after treatment). ZEVALIN should only be used by health care professionals qualified by training and experience in the safe use of radionuclides.
For more information on ZEVALIN, patients and healthcare professionals can visit www.ZEVALIN.com.
About Spectrum Pharmaceuticals
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a focus in oncology. The Company’s strategy is comprised of acquiring and developing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products; establishing a commercial organization for its approved drugs; continuing to build a team with people who have demonstrated skills, passion, commitment and have a track record of success in its areas of focus; and, leveraging the expertise of partners around the world to assist it in the execution of its strategy. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.spectrumpharm.com.
Forward-looking statement – This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements include but are not limited to statements that relate to our business and its future, Spectrum's ability to identify, acquire, develop and commercialize a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products, establishing a commercial organization for our approved drugs, continuing to build our team, leveraging the expertise of partners around the world to assist us in the execution of our strategy, the safety and efficacy of ZEVALIN, and any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of Spectrum or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact. Risks that could cause actual results to differ include the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, may not prove safe or effective, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates may not receive approval from the FDA, and other regulatory agencies in a timely manner or at all, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, if approved, may not be more effective, safer or more cost efficient than competing drugs, the possibility that our efforts to acquire or in-license and develop additional drug candidates may fail, our lack of revenues, our limited marketing experience, our dependence on third parties for clinical trials, manufacturing, distribution and quality control and other risks that are described in further detail in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law.
SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ® is a registered trademark of Spectrum, TURNING INSIGHTS INTO HOPE™ and the Spectrum Pharmaceutical logos are trademarks owned by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ZEVALIN is a registered trademark of RIT Oncology, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
© 2009 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Contact:
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Russell SkibstedSr. Vice President & Chief Business Officer949-788-6700, x234orPaul ArndtSenior Manager, Investor Relations949-788-6700, x216