Bayer and Onyx kidney cancer drug wins approval

Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals have won approval from the Swiss authorities for their Nexavar kidney cancer treatment.

The drug has been approved by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Tests indicated that Nexavar was able to inhibit tumour cell proliferation and tumour blood supply, with the drug delivering positive results.

When used to treat patients with advanced RCC, Nexavar doubled progression-free survival.

Bayer HealthCare’s pharmaceuticals chief Dr Gunnar Riemann welcomed the approval, describing it as “an important step in the brand’s entry into Europe”.

“We are pleased with the decision by Swissmedic, and proud that we can now make this therapy available to physicians and patients in this region,” he added.

The drug, which is being co-developed by Bayer and Onyx, will now be marketed by Bayer in Switzerland.

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