Aclasta, Veclade get CHMP nods

The European Medicines Agency's drug-review committee got busy today issuing recommendations--and rejections--for a laundry list of new meds and new indications for old ones. Here are the highlights.

• Novartis' bone drug Aclasta [1] got the nod for treating men at increased risk of fracture, including those with a recent low-trauma hip fracture. It's currently approved only for use in post-menopausal women and for treatment of Paget's disease.
• Johnson & Johnson's blood cancer med Velcade [2] got a thumbs-up for a new indication: use in combination with melphalan and prednisone in previously untreated multiple myeloma patients who aren't eligible for high-dose chemo. Velcade is already approved as monotherapy for patients who've tried at least one other treatment.
• Bayer's anticlotting medicine Xarelto--one of its leading drug hopefuls--got the committee's blessing for preventing clots after surgery.
• Sanofi-Aventis' attempt to broaden use of its cancer meds Taxotere [3] and Docetaxel Winthrop failed to get CHMP's OK; both meds are already approved for breast cancer treatment in combination with other anticancer meds.

As you know, a committee decision isn't guaranteed to be ratified by the EMEA itself, but it generally is.

- see the roundup [4] from CNN Money