Read the online version | ISSN 2811-9649
  May 2024  

Human Medicines Highlights

The newsletter for patients, consumers and healthcare professionals

EMA
banner for: Human Medicines Highlights

Follow us EMA X | EMA Youtube | EMA LinkedIn

Foreword

Welcome to the first issue of our revamped Human Medicines Highlights newsletter. This is the only newsletter published by the European Medicines Agency specifically for patients, consumers, healthcare professionals and their representative organisations. I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to share their feedback over the past year, helping us to improve this newsletter.

Quote We have improved the visibility of this newsletter, with a more modern look and multilingual content

As we launch the new Human Medicines Highlights, here are a few things you will notice:

  • The newsletter arrives directly in your inbox, with a summary of each item that can be clicked to access the full content online;
  • The online version of the newsletter is now available in all EU languages, which we hope will help bring the content to more readers; 
  • The content is grouped in dedicated sections, making it easier to find information on topics of interest, such as upcoming events, calls for interest and open consultations.

The newsletter will also include featured articles on topics of interest that we want to share with you from time to time. As we celebrate European Mental Health Week during 13-19 May, it is timely to include an update from a recent multistakeholder workshop on psychedelics.  

I hope you enjoy reading the new Human Medicines Highlights. Please feel free to circulate it to your members and networks. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for future issues. Please share this with us by email: public-engagement@ema.europa.eu.


Juan Garcia Burgos
Head of Public and Stakeholder Engagement 

↑ top

EMA news

Can psychedelics hold key to mental health treatments?

On 16 April 2024 experts from around the world gathered at EMA to discuss the development of safe and effective psychedelic medicines. Read about the two-day multi-stakeholder workshop.

 
more
 

European Shortages Monitoring Platform to be set up

As part of its extended mandate, EMA is setting up a platform to gather information about medicine supply and demand from national authorities and industry to prevent, detect and manage medicine shortages in the EU and EEA. The first version of the platform will be ready by February 2025.

 
more
 

EMA recommends updating COVID-19 vaccines to target new JN.1 variant

EMA’s Emergency Task Force recommends updating COVID-19 vaccines to target the new SARS-CoV-2 variant JN.1 for the 2024/2025 vaccination campaign.

 
more
 

Confidentiality arrangement between EU and Republic of Korea

EMA and the European Commission have signed an arrangement with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea for the exchange of confidential information on medical products.

 
more
 
↑ top

Information on medicines

Antivirals/anti-infectives

New information on authorised medicines

  • Sirturo (bedaquiline) – change of indication – conditional approval
    Treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Cancer

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Eribulin Baxter (eribulin) – generic of Halaven
    Treatment of breast cancer and liposarcoma (a cancer of fatty tissue)
  • Fruzaqla (fruquintinib)
    Treatment of colorectal cancer
  • Truqap (capivasertib)
    Treatment of breast cancer

New information on authorised medicines

  • Alecensa (alectinib) – new indication
    Treatment of non‑small cell lung cancer
  • Opdivo (nivolumab) – new indication
    Treatment of different types of cancer
  • Rozlytrek (entrectinib) – new pharmaceutical form – conditional approval
    Treatment of certain solid tumours and non-small-cell lung  cancer
  • Rybrevant (amivantamab) – new indication – conditional approval
    Treatment of carcinoma and non-small-cell lung  cancer

Cardiovascular system

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Jeraygo (aprocitentan)
    Treatment of resistant hypertension (high blood pressure)

Dermatology (skin conditions)

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Wezenla (ustekinumab) – biosimilar
    Treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s Disease (inflammatory conditions)

Gastro-intestinal system

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Fruzaqla (fruquintinib)
    Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Supply shortages

  • Creon (pancrealipase/pancreas powder)
    Treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (a condition in which the pancreas insufficiently delivers digestive enzymes into the small intestine, thereby preventing food from being fully digested)
  • Emend (aprepitant)
    Prevention of nausea and vomiting

Haematology

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Altuvoct (efanesoctocog alfa)
    Treatment and prevention of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A

HIV

New information on authorised medicines

  • Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) – new contraindication
    Treatment of HIV infection
  • Triumeq (abacavir sulfate / dolutegravir sodium / lamivudine) – extension of indication
    Treatment of HIV infection

Immune system

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Tofidence (tocilizumab) biosimilar
    Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the following inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
  • Wezenla (ustekinumab) biosimilar
    Treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s Disease (inflammatory conditions)

Nervous system

New medicines authorised

  • Niapelf (paliperidone)
    Treatment of schizophrenia

Rheumatology

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Tofidence (tocilizumab) biosimilar
    Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the following inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Urology

Positive CHMP opinions on new medicines

  • Obgemsa (vibegron)
    Treatment of people with Over Active Bladder (OAB) syndrome who have difficulty controlling urination

Other medicines

Withdrawal of applications for new medicines

  • GeGant (Germanium (68Ge) chloride / Gallium (68Ga) chloride)
    Device intended to be used to make a solution that contains the radioactive substance  used in diagnosing diseases

Medicines under additional monitoring

Updated list of medicines under additional monitoring 

 

↑ top

Upcoming events

Follow-up meeting on soft tissue and bone sarcoma

This meeting is organised as a follow-up on the EMA and EORTC workshop on soft tissue and bone sarcoma, held on 12 January 2024. Registration is open until 20 May.
Date
date 24/05/2024
Venue
venue EMA and online
Registration
Registration Register for this event
 
more
 

Joint HMA/EMA Big Data Steering Group workshop on RWE methods

This workshop aims to gather views of stakeholders on the EMA's draft reflection paper on real-world evidence, including priorities for further regulatory guidance development and on future collaboration beyond the reflection paper.
Date
date 14/06/2024
Venue
venue EMA and online
Registration
Registration Register for this event
 
more
 

EMA workshop on the challenges in drug development, regulation and clinical practice in haemoglobinopathies

This workshop will gather stakeholders' perspectives on sickle cell disease and thalassaemia before initiating the drafting of new guidelines for both diseases, in line with the Agency's haematology work plan 2024.
Date
date 01/07/2024
Venue
venue Online
Registration
Registration Register for this event
 
more
 
↑ top

Recent events

Cancer Medicines Forum, February 2024: minutes and presentations

Minutes and presentations from the Cancer Medicines Forum meeting held on 24 February are now available. The Forum explores how EMA can contribute towards addressing remaining uncertainties about the use of cancer medicines in clinical practice.
 
more
 

Multistakeholder workshop on psychedelics: presentations available

On 16 April 2024 EMA held a workshop on the development of safe and effective psychedelic medicines, where stakeholders discussed their therapeutic potential and regulatory challenges associated with their development. Presentations from the workshop are now available.
 
more
 
↑ top

Open consultations

  • Revised HMA/EMA guidance on identification of commercially confidential information and personal data in the structure of marketing authorisation application dossiers
    Deadline for comments: 28 June 2024
  • Reflection paper on use of real-world data in non-interventional studies to generate real-world evidence
    Deadline for comments: 31 August 2024
  • Guideline on requirements for demonstrating therapeutic equivalence between orally inhaled products for asthma and COPD
    Deadline for comments: 30 October 2024 
  • Guideline on pharmaceutical quality of inhalation and nasal medicinal products
    Deadline for comments: 31 October 2024
↑ top

Scientific committee and working party activities

  • Medicinal products for human use: monthly figures - March 2024
  • CAT - agendas, minutes and reports
  • CHMP - agendas, minutes and highlights
  • CHMP - applications for new human medicines: May 2024
  • COMP - agendas, minutes and meetings reports
  • HMPC - agendas, minutes and meetings reports
  • PDCO - agendas, minutes and meeting reports
  • PRAC - agendas, minutes and highlights
  • PRAC statistics: April 2024
  • PRAC recommendations on safety signals
↑ top

EMA publications

Minutes of the 122nd meeting of the Management Board

The minutes of the 122nd meeting of the EMA Management Board, held on 13-14 December 2023, are available.

 
more
 

Report: International regulators' meeting on COVID-19 vaccine strain updates

International regulators have published a report of the outcomes of a workshop on COVID-19 vaccine strain updates organised by the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and the World Health Organization.

 
more
 

New EMA recommendations to strengthen supply chains of critical medicines

EMA’s Medicines Shortages Steering Group has published recommendations to address vulnerabilities in the production and delivery of medicines included in the Union list of critical medicines and strengthen their supply chain.

 
more
 

Guidance on real-world evidence studies to support regulatory decision-making

A new guidance document describes how EMA scientific committees, national competent authorities, EU decision-makers and other partners can request real-world evidence studies from EMA, and how such data can be useful in regulatory decision-making.
 
more
 
↑ top

How EMA involves stakeholders

How EMA engages with patients

EMA engages actively with patients and consumers since the creation of the Agency in 1995. Find out how they contribute and the added value they bring.

 
more
 

From lab to patient: how EMA approves medicines

Follow the journey of a centrally authorised medicine: find out what happens at every stage and how stakeholders are involved. An interactive timeline is available in English and the PDF leaflet can be consulted in 22 European languages.

 
more
 
↑ top

Subscribe, if this email was forwarded to you. | Unsubscribe, if don't want to receive this email anymore. | You can review your personal data on your profile page.

Contact us: public-engagement@ema.europa.eu

The European Commission is committed to personal data protection. Any personal data is processed in line with the Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. Please read the privacy statement.

ISSN: 2811-9649 | Catalogue Number: TC-AN-24-001-EN-Q