The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for BeiGene’s drug to address a specific form of advanced esophageal cancer in patients who have undergone prior chemotherapy treatments.
Branded as Tevimbra, this therapy has been sanctioned as a monotherapy for adult patients grappling with unresectable or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
According to a company spokesperson, Tevimbra is slated to become available to patients in the United States during the latter part of 2024, with pricing details set to be disclosed closer to its launch.
Estimates from the American Cancer Society project over 22,000 new cases of esophageal cancer in the U.S. in 2024.
Tevimbra, classified as an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, belongs to the same treatment category as Merck’s blockbuster drug Keytruda, which aids the immune system in identifying and combating tumors.
Following the termination of a 2021 partnership with Swiss drugmaker Novartis, BeiGene regained complete global rights to Tevimbra last year, allowing for independent development of the therapy.
