Eisai has launched its oncology product Halaven in Russia for the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer.
Halaven (eribulin) will be available for patients who have already had treatment with an anthracycline and a taxane unless patients were not suitable for these treatments.
The launch expands the reach of the drug beyond its current markets in the EU, the US and Eisai’s home nation of Japan, in which it managed combined sales of 26.6bn Japanese Yen (about €200m) during the fiscal year 2012.
The Russian market will be an important one for Eisai, with around 50,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year and incidents having increased by 64 per cent over the last 20 years.
“The rate of metastatic breast cancer in Russia continues to increase at an alarming rate,” said Gary Hendler, president and CEO, Eisai EMEA.
“We are delighted that the Russian Ministry of Health recognises the clinical value Halaven offers women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.”
Dr Vera Gorbunova, head of the chemical therapy department at the Russian Blokhin Oncologic Research Centre, described the decision by the Russian Ministry of Health to approve the drug as a “significant step forward” for women with breast cancer in the country.
“The use of eribulin in Russia will introduce new treatments and provide women with metastatic breast cancer with an opportunity to use the new medicine to achieve and maintain remission of the disease,” she said.
To prepare for the launch, Eisai announced in March its intentions to set up a new sales and marketing operation in Russia.
Based in Moscow, this new team will focus initially on Halaven, although Eisai has further plans to work on its epilepsy portfolio, including Zonegran (zonisamide) and Exalief (eslicarbazepine acetate), in the country.