Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Expands Manufacturing Capacity to Ensure Long-Term Supply of FUSILEV® to Meet Needs of Patients and Physicians
Spectrum PharmaceuticalsShiv Kapoor, 702-835-6300Vice President, Strategic Planning & Investor Relations
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGS: SPPI), a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in hematology and oncology, today announced the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an additional manufacturing facility for the production of FUSILEV® (levoleucovorin) for injection. Spectrum has continued to increase the number of qualified third-party manufacturing sites approved for FUSILEV production since this product was approved in 2011 for use in combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.
"During 2012, we have undertaken significant expansion efforts to grow our infrastructure and capabilities, enlarge and realign our sales force, and further tailor our promotional and other initiatives to meet our customers’ needs. All of these programs will be critical as we continue to significantly increase our hematology and oncology footprint,” said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, M.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Adding a manufacturing site further differentiates us from single-source suppliers, which can pose supply chain risks. Multiple production sites help ensure long-term uninterrupted supply of FUSILEV, with our new facility allowing us to increase geographic diversification of supply.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, Colorectal Cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. There were about 141,210 new cases of Colorectal Cancer diagnosed in 2011, almost 400 per day. 1,110,000 people are currently living with colorectal cancer in the US, and 49,380 deaths were estimated in 2011, almost 136 per day.
SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2008, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD
FUSILEV, a novel folate analog, is approved as a ready-to-use solution (FUSILEV Injection), and as freeze-dried powder (FUSILEV for Injection). FUSILEV is indicated for use in combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. FUSILEV is also indicated for rescue after high-dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma. FUSILEV is also indicated to diminish the toxicity and counteract the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosage of folic acid antagonists. FUSILEV, under various trade names, is marketed outside the United States by Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda.
FUSILEV is dosed at one-half the usual dose of racemic d,l-leucovorin. FUSILEV is contraindicated for patients who have had previous allergic reactions attributed to folic acid or folinic acid. Due to calcium content, no more than 16-mL (160-mg) of levoleucovorin solution should be injected intravenously per minute. FUSILEV enhances the toxicity of fluorouracil. Concomitant use of d,l-leucovorin with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV patients was associated with increased rates of treatment failure in a placebo-controlled study. Allergic reactions were reported in patients receiving FUSILEV. Vomiting (38%), stomatitis (38%) and nausea (19%) were reported in patients receiving FUSILEV as rescue after high dose methotrexate therapy. The most common adverse reactions ( > 50%) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving FUSILEV in combination with 5-fluorouracil were diarrhea, nausea and stomatitis. FUSILEV may counteract the antiepileptic effect of phenobarbital, phenytoin and primidone, and increase the frequency of seizures in susceptible patients.
Full prescribing information can be found at .
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a leading biotechnology company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing drug products, with a primary focus in oncology and hematology. Spectrum and its affiliates market three oncology drugs ─ FUSILEV (levoleucovorin) for Injection in the U.S.; FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection), also marketed in the U.S.; and ZEVALIN (ibritumomab tiuxetan) Injection for intravenous use, for which the Company has worldwide marketing rights. Spectrum's strong track record in in-licensing and acquiring differentiated drugs, and expertise in clinical development have generated a robust, diversified, and growing pipeline of product candidates in advanced-stage Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies. More information on Spectrum is available at .