The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended marketing authorisation for Lenvima (lenvatinib) for the treatment of adults with progressive, locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), whose disease has progressed despite receiving radioactive iodine.

Lenvima was reviewed under EMA’s accelerated assessment programme, as it provides a new treatment option for these patients.

Thyroid cancer is a rare disease which affects the thyroid, a small gland at the base of the neck that produces thyroid hormones. DTC is the most common type of thyroid cancer. It is generally treated with surgery, radioactive iodine and thyroxine therapy to suppress thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Most people have a good prognosis following standard treatments. However, in a small group of patients, the cancer progresses despite treatment with radioactive iodine.

These patients currently have few treatment options. Patients may not experience symptoms of their disease until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage and their prognosis is very poor.

For more details, go to: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2015/03/news_detail_002297.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1