Chugai Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., and a wholly owned subsidiary of Chugai, Chugai Pharma Marketing Ltd. (CPM) and Helsinn Group, the Swiss group focused on building quality cancer care, announced that Chugai Pharma UK Ltd, CPM subsidiary, has launched Akynzeo, an oral fixed-dose combination of netupitant (highly-selective NK1 receptor antagonist) and palonosetron (clinically and pharmacologically distinct 5-HT3 receptor antagonist) indicated for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in the UK from September 1, 2015.

CPM has been granted the exclusive right of Akynzeo for sales and marketing from Helsinn Healthcare S.A.

“Following the launch of Aloxi starting January this year, we are pleased to deliver a novel new product for the treatment of CINV to patients by CPU,” said John Halls, managing director of CPM.

“With strong collaboration and partnership with our license partners, including Helsinn, we are confident that CPM will improve our presence in the oncology supportive care in the European market.”

“Helsinn has a great relationship with Chugai and we are delighted that they are our partner in the launch of Akynzeo in the UK,” said Riccardo Braglia, CEO of Helsinn Group.

“We believe that Akynzeo can play a significant role in preventing nausea and vomiting in both the acute and delayed phases following chemotherapy treatment, which could lead to more treatment options for the patient.”

CINV is one of the most common side effects of cancer chemotherapy. The prevention of CINV has been refined in treatment guidelines over the past several decades. Currently, the combination treatment of antiemetic medicines with different mechanisms of actions are recommended for the prevention of CINV.

Akynzeo provides a combination of two antiemetics in a single oral capsule. A scheme of an NK1 receptor antagonist, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone meets the guidelines’ recommendation for optimal antiemetic therapy following highly emetogenic and anthracycline cyclophosphamide based chemotherapy.

As stated in the CHMP summary of opinion, the “simplification of therapy by decreasing the number of individual dose units to be taken by the patient may furthermore improve patient compliance.”

Chugai and CPM strongly believe that Akynzeo as a novel new treatment option will deliver great contribution to patients in the UK suffering from CINV.