Avzivi | European Medicines Agency (2024)

Overview

On 30 May 2024, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of amarketing authorisationfor the medicinal product Avzivi,intended for the treatment ofcarcinoma of the colon or rectum, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell cancer, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer and carcinoma of the cervix.

The applicant for this medicinal product is FGK Representative Service GmbH.

Avzivi will be available as25 mg/mlconcentrate for solution for infusion. The active substance of Avzivi is bevacizumab, amonoclonal antibody (ATC code:L01FG01) which binds to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thereby inhibiting the binding of VEGF to its receptors on the surface of endothelial cells. Neutralising the biological activity of VEGF, regresses the vascularisation of tumours, normalises the remaining tumour vasculature and inhibits the formation of new tumour vasculature, thereby inhibiting tumour growth.

Avzivi is a biosimilar medicinal product. It is highly similar to the reference product Avastin (bevacizumab), which was authorised in the EU on 12 January 2005. Data show that Avzivi has comparable quality, safety and efficacy to Avastin (bevacizumab). More information on biosimilar medicines can be foundhere.

The full indication is:

Avzivi in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy is indicated for treatment of adult patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum.

Avzivi in combination with pacl*taxel is indicated for first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic breast cancer. For further information as to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, please refer to section 5.1.

Avzivi in combination with capecitabine is indicated for first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic breast cancer in whom treatment with other chemotherapy options including taxanes or anthracyclines is not considered appropriate. Patients who have received taxane and anthracycline-containing regimens in the adjuvant setting within the last 12 months should be excluded from treatment with Avzivi in combination with capecitabine. For further information as to HER2 status, please refer to section 5.1.

Avzivi, in addition to platinum-based chemotherapy, is indicated for first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology.

Avzivi, in combination with erlotinib, is indicated for first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) activating mutations (see section 5.1).

Avzivi in combination with interferon alfa-2a is indicated for first line treatment of adult patients with advanced and/or metastatic renal cell cancer.

Avzivi, in combination with carboplatin and pacl*taxel is indicated for the front-line treatment of adult patients with advanced (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages III B, III C and IV) epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer (see section 5.1).

Avzivi, in combination with carboplatin and gemcitabine or in combination with carboplatin and pacl*taxel, is indicated for treatment of adult patients with first recurrence of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who have not received prior therapy with bevacizumab or other VEGF inhibitors or VEGF receptor–targeted agents.

Avzivi in combination with pacl*taxel, topotecan, or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who received no more than two prior chemotherapy regimens and who have not received prior therapy with bevacizumab or other VEGF inhibitors or VEGF receptor–targeted agents (see section 5.1).

Avzivi, in combination with pacl*taxel and cisplatin or, alternatively, pacl*taxel and topotecan in patients who cannot receive platinum therapy, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic carcinoma of the cervix (see section 5.1).

Avzivi should be prescribed by physicians experienced in the use of antineoplastic medicinal products.

Detailed recommendations for the use of this product will be described in the summary of product characteristics (SmPC), which will be published in the European public assessment report (EPAR) and made available in all official European Union languages after the marketing authorisation has been granted by the European Commission.

CHMP summary of positive opinion for Avzivi

AdoptedReference Number: EMA/CHMP/226533/2024

English (EN) (156.8 KB - PDF)

First published:

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Product details

Name of medicine

Avzivi

Active substance

bevacizumab

International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name

bevacizumab

Therapeutic area (MeSH)
  • Colorectal Neoplasms
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) code

L01XC07

EMA product number

EMEA/H/C/005574

Biosimilar

This is a biosimilar medicine, which is a biological medicine highly similar to another already approved biological medicine called the ‘reference medicine’. For more information, see Biosimilar medicines.

Marketing authorisation applicant

FGK Representative Service GmbH

Opinion adopted

30/05/2024

Opinion status

Positive

Avzivi | European Medicines Agency (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between the FDA and the EMA? ›

The FDA is a centralized agency that oversees the drug development process in a single country, whereas the EMEA is a reviewing body that manages the process in many European nations. In the FDA, drug evaluation applications and the drug development process are monitored by the FDA's own staff.

What is the FDA called in Europe? ›

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) : EFSA is an agency of the European Union set up in 2002 to serve as an impartial source of scientific advice to risk managers and to communicate on risks associated with the food chain.

What is the Portuguese medicines agency? ›

Infarmed is a Government agency accountable to the Health Ministry, that evaluates, authorises, regulates and controls human medicines as well as health products, namely, medical devices and cosmetics for the protection of Public Health.

Does EMA approve drugs? ›

While the majority of new, innovative medicines are evaluated by EMA and authorised by the European Commission in order to be marketed in the EU, most generic medicines and medicines available without a prescription are assessed and authorised at national level in the EU.

Who regulates EMA? ›

The regulatory network also includes the European Commission , whose principal role in the European system is to take binding decisions based on the scientific recommendations delivered by EMA.

What countries are approved by the EMA? ›

The EMA serves the EU and three countries from the EEA—Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. The EMA practices pharmacovigilance to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines.

What is the FDA called in Germany? ›

The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM ) is an independent federal higher authority within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Is the EU stricter than the FDA? ›

EU regulations on food additives tend to be stricter than in the US. The EFSA requires additives to be proven safe before approval and has banned the use of growth hormones and several chemical additives. These differing philosophies lead to certain additives being allowed in the US and banned in Europe.

Is EMA a government agency? ›

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of Singapore.

Who is the founder of EMA? ›

Ema was founded in March 2023 by former Google employees Souvik Sen and Surojit Chatterjee and stands for Enterprise Machine Assistant. It allows enterprises to build generative AI personas and applications internally to bring about automation and increase efficiency and productivity.

Where is the EMA located? ›

The European Medicines Agency's office is located in Amsterdam.

How is the EMA funded? ›

Around 92.4% of the Agency's budget derives from fees and charges, 7.3% from the European Union (EU) contribution for public-health issues and 0.3% from other sources.

Is medicine in Portugal good? ›

How good is the Portuguese healthcare system? The public healthcare system in Portugal and the private system in the country are very good, and if you are a Portuguese resident, medical fees are minimal. Today, Portugal's healthcare system ranks 25th in the 2023 Health Care Index by Numbeo.

What does EMA do? ›

The Agency's main responsibilities are authorising and monitoring medicines in the EU. Companies apply to it for a single marketing authorisation, which is issued by the European Commission. If granted, this enables them to market the medicine concerned throughout the EU and the EEA.

What is the difference in EMA and FDA process validation guidelines? ›

The core expectations of both EMA & FDA with respect to process validation overall are nearly identical and likely to be more closely aligned in the future. FDA focuses on understanding and controlling variability. EMA focuses on science based, quality risk management.

What are the main differences between FDA and EU medical device classification? ›

One of the main differences between the EU medical device regulation and the FDA is that a clinical evaluation must be performed for all medical devices, no matter the class. As risk increases, so do requirements. Higher risk devices do require clinical investigations (tests on humans) in both markets.

How are the FDA and EU food regulations different? ›

In the US, the FDA and USDA take a more hands-off approach to testing and inspections, often allowing new food ingredients unless proven harmful. Historically, this has included ingredients like GMOs, growth hormones, and chemical preservatives. EU regulations on food additives tend to be stricter than in the US.

What is the difference between the EU and the EMA? ›

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralized agency of the European Union (EU) whose goal is to promote and protect human and animal health. The EMA is the European Union's equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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