Meeting highlights from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) 20-23 January 2014

This page provides an overview of the opinions adopted at the January 2014 meeting of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and other important outcomes.

Six new medicines recommended for approval

The CHMP recommended granting a marketing authorisation for Eperzan (albiglutide), for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The Committee gave a positive recommendation for Adempas (riociguat) for the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Adempas has an orphan designation.

The Committee recommended the granting of a marketing authorisation for Latuda (lurasidone) for the treatment of schizophrenia.

The Committee gave a positive recommendation for Bemfola (follitropin alfa), a new biosimilar medicine for the treatment of infertility.

Two generic medicines were also recommended for approval by the CHMP: Rivastigmine 3M Health Care Ltd for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia and Zoledronic acid Teva Generics for the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget's disease of the bone.

Positive scientific opinion on Hemoprostol

The CHMP also recommended the approval of Hemoprostol (misoprostol), indicated for the treatment of post-partum haemorrhage due to uterine atony in situations where intravenous oxytocin is not available. Hemoprostol will be intended exclusively for markets outside the European Union.

Four negative opinions on new medicines

The Committee adopted four negative opinions in January 2014, including opinions for Nerventra, which was intended for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Reasanz, which was intended for the treatment of acute heart failure. The Committee also issued negative opinions for two orphan medicines, Masiviera which was intended for the treatment of non resectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer and Translarna which was intended for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Three recommendations on extensions of therapeutic indications

The CHMP recommended extensions of indications for NovoThirteen, Stelara and Xolair.

Review of emergency contraceptives started

The CHMP started a review of emergency contraceptives to assess whether increased bodyweight and body mass index (BMI) reduce the efficacy of these medicines in preventing an unintended pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. Please see press release Review of emergency contraceptives started for more details.

Update on safety review of Protelos / Osseor

The recommendation of the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) that Protelos and Osseor should no longer be used to treat osteoporosis is still under consideration by the CHMP. At its January 2014 meeting the Committee requested additional information from the company to inform its scientific decision-making. A final opinion will be made by the CHMP at its meeting in February 2014.

Request for re-examination of CHMP recommendation of topical estradiol-containing medicines

The marketing authorisation holder for Linoladiol N and Linoladiol HN has requested a re-examination of the CHMP's December 2013 opinion on Linoladiol N. Upon receipt of the grounds of the request for re-examination, the CHMP will re-examine its opinion and issue a final opinion.

Other updates

The CHMP has recommended lifting the suspension of the marketing authorisation for Vibativ. The Committee recommended suspending the marketing authorisation for the medicine in 2012 following a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspection of Ben Venue Laboratories, Ohio, USA, which was triggered by shortcomings in quality assurance identified at this site. At its January 2014 meeting, the CHMP was of the opinion that the marketing authorisation holder has provided sufficient evidence to confirm that a suitable manufacturing site has been approved and therefore recommended lifting the suspension. The suspension of the marketing authorisation for Luminity, which was also suspended in 2012 following the same inspection, was lifted at the CHMP meeting in December 2013.

Agenda and minutes

The agenda of the January 2014 meeting is published on the EMA web site. The minutes of the meeting will be published during the week following the February CHMP meeting. Minutes of the December 2013 CHMP meeting will be published next week.

CHMP statistics

Key figures from the January 2014 CHMP meeting are included in the graphic below. We will now be providing cumulative figures in the CHMP highlights every month.

Positive recommendations on new medicines

Name of medicine	Adempas
International non-proprietary name (INN)	riociguat
Marketing-authorisation applicant	Bayer Pharma AG
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension
More information	Summary of opinion for Adempas

Name of medicine	Eperzan
INN	albiglutide
Marketing-authorisation applicant	GlaxoSmithKline Trading Services
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
More information	Summary of opinion for Eperzan

Name of medicine	Latuda
INN	lurasidone
Marketing-authorisation applicant	Takeda Pharma A/S
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of schizophrenia
More information	Summary of opinion Latuda

Negative recommendations on new medicines

Name of medicine	Masiviera
INN	masitinib
Marketing-authorisation applicant	AB Science
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of non resectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer
More information	Questions and answers on refusal of the marketing authorisation for Masiviera

Name of medicine	Nerventra
INN	laquinimod
Marketing-authorisation applicant	Teva Pharma GmbH
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of multiple sclerosis
More information	Questions and answers on refusal of the marketing authorisation for Nerventra

Name of medicine	Reasanz
INN	serelaxin
Marketing-authorisation applicant	Novartis Europharm Ltd
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of acute heart failure
More information	Questions and answers on refusal of the marketing authorisation for Reasanz

Name of medicine	Translarna
INN	ataluren
Marketing-authorisation applicant	PTC Therapeutics Limited
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
More information	Questions and answers on refusal of the marketing authorisation for Translarna

Positive recommendation on new biosimilar medicine

Name of medicine	Bemfola
INN	follitropin alfa
Marketing-authorisation applicant	Finox Biotech AG
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of infertility
More information	Summary of opinion for Bemfola

Positive recommendations on new generic medicines

Name of medicine	Rivastigmine 3M Health Care Ltd
INN	rivastigmine
Marketing-authorisation applicant	3M Health Care Ltd
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of Alzheimer's dementia
More information	Summary of opinion for Rivastigmine 3M Health Care Ltd

Name of medicine	Zoledronic acid Teva Generics
INN	zoledronic acid
Marketing-authorisation applicant	Teva Generics B.V.
Therapeutic indication	Treatment of osteoporosis and Paget's disease of the bone
More information	Summary of opinion for Zoledronic acid Teva Generics

Positive recommendations on extensions of therapeutic indications

Name of medicine	NovoThirteen
INN	catridecacog
Marketing-authorisation holder	Novo Nordisk A/S
More information	Summary of opinion for NovoThirteen

Name of medicine	Stelara
INN	ustekinumab
Marketing-authorisation holder	Janssen-Cilag International N.V.
More information	Summary of opinion for Stelara

Name of medicine	Xolair
INN	omalizumab
Marketing-authorisation holder	Novartis Europharm Ltd
More information	Summary of opinion for Xolair

Outcome of harmonisation procedure

Withdrawal of application

Other updates

Opinions on annual re-assessments, renewals of marketing authorisations and accelerated assessment procedures

Opinions on safety variations

Start of Community reviews

Scientific advice and protocol assistance

Guidelines and concept papers adopted

Organisational matters