BeiGene cancer drug receives further international approval

Chinese biotech enterprise BeiGene announced on Monday that its cancer treatment Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) has been approved by authorities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar for the treatment of adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior therapy.

This development means the drug has received more than 20 approvals covering 50 countries and regions, including the United States, China, the European Union, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. Currently, more than 40 additional regulatory submissions are in review around the world.

BeiGene said it is working with NewBridge Pharmaceuticals, a local specialty company that has partnerships with global pharma and biotech companies, to bring the drug to patients in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other markets in the Middle East and North Africa region following regulatory approval.

In November 2019, Brukinsa was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat mantle cell lymphoma in adult patients, marking the first cancer treatment developed in China to be approved for the US market.