Janssen Inc. announced today Health Canada has approved Imbruvica (ibrutinib) for the treatment of the blood cancer chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is indicated for the treatment of patients with CLL, including those with 17p deletion, who have received at least one prior therapy, or for the frontline treatment of patients with CLL with 17p deletion. In CLL, 17p deletion is a genetic mutation that has been associated with poor treatment outcomes.

Imbruvica is co-developed by Cilag GmbH International (a member of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies) and Pharmacyclics, Inc. Janssen will commercialize Imbruvica in Canada, and Janssen affiliates will commercialize it around the world, except in the United States, where Pharmacyclics and Janssen Biotech, Inc. co-market it.

For more details, go to: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1448879/health-canada-approves-imbruvicatm-by-priority-review-giving-physicians-and-patients-a-much-needed-option-in-the-fight-against-chronic-lymphocytic-leu