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PharmaMar has been awarded a European licence to market the first anticancer drug of marine origin to be developed by a Spanish biopharmaceutical firm.

By 20 de July de 2007November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 20.07.2007

PharmaMar has been awarded a European licence to market the first anticancer drug of marine origin to be developed by a Spanish biopharmaceutical firm.

PharmaMar, a biopharmaceutical subsidiary of the Zeltia Group, has received the go-ahead from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) to market a new anti-tumour drug for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas. This is the first anticancer drug of marine origin to be developed by a Spanish biopharmaceutical firm, and thus confirms both the potential of marine compounds as therapeutic options and the leading role played by PharmaMar in this type of research and drug development.

The authorization of the EMEA to market this new drug, known as Yondelis, is based on the positive results from a comparative trial of 270 patients with this disease who had not responded to conventional treatments; they were then given the drug in two different administration protocols (24-h every three weeks compared with 3-h per week). The study found significant differences between the groups, there being a 27% reduction in tumour progression and an increased survival rate in patients subjected to the protocol of 24-h every three weeks.

In addition to its usefulness in treating soft tissue sarcomas, Yondelis may also be applicable to other types of cancer such as ovarian, breast or prostate cancer, and this possibility is currently being investigated.

PharmaMar, founded in 1986, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving cancer treatment through the discovery and development of innovative drugs of marine origin. The company collaborates with the Barcelona Science Park in developing various research projects via the mixed unit PharmaMar-PCB.