Exhibition Stands News
European market authorisation granted for Ixiaro
06 Apr 2009
Novartis has received marketing authorisation for its Ixario drug, it has announced.
The European Commission gave the green light to the pharmaceutical company for the therapy, which is a vaccine for the prevention of mosquito-borne flaviviral infection Japanese Encephalitis.
Novartis says the disease kills between 10,000 and 15,000 people on an annual basis, meaning the drug is potentially a life-saving treatment.
Dr Andrin Oswald, chief executive officer of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, notes Asia is a "very popular" travel destination for people, adding the threat to visitors is "unpredictable" as Japanese Encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes.
"Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure against the disease and Ixiaro will address an unmet medical need for travellers from Europe to Asia," the expert added.
In recent days, the company cited a Lancet article which said the therapy Glivec "substantially" reduced the risk of returning cancer in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
