Takeda wins UK approval for cancer drug

Takeda Pharmaceutical won the backing of the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for its Mepact (mifamurtide) drug, for the treatment of high-grade resectable non-metastic osteosarcoma.

Mepact is approved for use with chemotherapy after surgery for bone cancers that have not spread. The approval is conditional on Takeda providing a price discount, which it has agreed to do, according to NICE.

The agency reversed a decision from 2010 in which it rejected the drug. The initial economic analysis may not have adequately captured the health-related quality of life from the drug, NICE said.

The terms of the discount have not been disclosed at Takeda's request.

Takeda acquired the rights to Mepact when it purchased IDM Pharma in May, 2009.