The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) under the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion and recommended marketing authorization for Lundbeck's Selincro for the reduction of alcohol consumption in adult patients with alcohol dependence who maintain a high level of alcohol consumption.

Once approved, Lundbeck will provide Selincro as part of a new treatment concept that includes continuous psychosocial support focused on the reduction of alcohol consumption and treatment adherence.

For many patients with alcohol dependence, to entirely stop and abstain from drinking is not an acceptable or attainable treatment goal. Selincro will be the first medication specifically developed for the reduction of alcohol consumption in patients with alcohol dependence who maintain a high level of alcohol consumption. Selincro reduces alcohol consumption and thus the consequences of harmful drinking, and offers a new treatment option for patients who may not have sought treatment before.

"Selincro represents the first major innovation in the treatment of alcohol dependence in many years. Selincro reduces the urge to continue drinking and helps patients with alcohol dependence to reduce their alcohol consumption," says Executive Vice President Anders Gersel Pedersen, Head of Research & Development at Lundbeck, and continues: "The Committee's support of Selincro brings us closer to encouraging more patients with alcohol dependence to potentially seek help and treatment."

Selincro is an opioid system modulator that works on the brain's motivational system, which is dysregulated in patients with alcohol dependence. Selincro is thought to reduce the reinforcing effects of alcohol.

The CHMP opinion was based on the results from three pivotal, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials studying the effects of 18mg Selincro in adults patients with alcohol dependence. These studies included approximately 2,000 patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence; two-thirds of these patients had never before received treatment for their disease.

For approval, the efficacy of Selincro was assessed in patients with a high drinking risk level (defined by WHO: men >60 gram per day, women >40 gram per day (1 standard drink ~10 grams of alcohol)). Patients enrolled in the studies with high drinking risk level drank on average 10.5 standard drinks per day (equivalent to approximately 1.5 bottles of wine).  Patients treated with Selincro showed a more than 40% reduction in total alcohol consumption within the first month, and at study end (6 or 12 months) the alcohol intake was reduced by more than 60%. This corresponds to an average reduction equal to nearly one bottle of wine per day. The reduction of alcohol consumption in patients with high drinking risk level was significantly better than placebo at study end in all three studies and was considered clinically relevant.  Data from the 1-year study suggested longer term efficacy of Selincro beyond 6 months and up to 1 year of treatment.  There were no major safety concerns identified during the studies, and Selincro was generally well tolerated.

The European Commission usually delivers its final decision within 2-3 months of the CHMP recommendation. The decision will be applicable to all 27 European Union member states plus Iceland and Norway. Subject to the Commission's final approval and completion of pricing and reimbursement discussions, Lundbeck expects to launch Selincro in a number of European markets by mid-2013.

Once approved, Selincro will be indicated for the reduction of alcohol consumption in adult patients with alcohol dependence who have a high drinking risk level (>60g/day for men, >40g/day for women) without physical withdrawal symptoms and who do not require immediate detoxification. Selincro should be prescribed in conjunction with continuous psychosocial support focused on treatment adherence and the reduction of alcohol consumption. Treatment should be initiated only in patients who continue to have a high drinking risk level two weeks after an initial assessment. Selincro is to be taken as-needed; that is, on each day the patient perceives a risk of drinking alcohol, one tablet should be taken, preferably 1-2 hours prior to the anticipated time of drinking.

Lundbeck licensed the rights to Selincro from Finnish Biotie Therapies Corp. (Biotie). Under the terms of the agreement, Biotie received an execution fee of EUR 12 million. In total, Biotie is eligible for up to EUR 89 million in upfront and milestone payments plus royalty on sales. Lundbeck holds the global rights to the compound and is responsible for the registration, manufacturing and marketing of the product.

Alcohol dependence is a brain disease with a high probability of following a progressive course. Alcohol is toxic to most organs of the body, and the level of consumption is strongly correlated with the risk for long-term morbidity and mortality. Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 60 types of disease and injury. Genetic and environmental factors are important in the development of alcohol dependence; genetic factors account for an estimated 60% of the risk of developing the disease. A central characteristic of alcohol dependence is the often overpowering desire to consume alcohol.  Patients experience difficulties in controlling the consumption of alcohol and continue consuming alcohol despite harmful consequences.

Excessive alcohol consumption is common in many parts of the world, especially in Europe where more than 14 million people are alcohol dependent. In Europe the treatment gap is very large, with only 8% of patients receiving any treatment. Both abstinence and reduction goals should be considered as part of a comprehensive treatment approach for patients with alcohol dependence.

H. Lundbeck A/S is an international pharmaceutical company highly committed to improving the quality of life for people suffering from brain disorders.The company is also engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world.