On April 17, 2025 Norgine reported that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the registration of IFINWIL (eflornithine) for the treatment of adults and paediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), who have responded to prior multiagent, multimodality therapy (Press release, Norgine, APR 16, 2025, View Source [SID1234651964]).
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Neuroblastoma Australia welcomed the news today:
"On behalf of all families of children impacted by neuroblastoma, we welcome the TGA’s decision to approve IFINWIL. We urgently need treatments for children diagnosed with neuroblastoma and this milestone marks a step in the right direction towards a better future for children and their families. We thank the Federal Government for taking action to ensure access and we look forward to continued support for children with aggressive cancers." said Lucy Jones, CEO Neuroblastoma Australia.
High Risk Neuroblastoma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer, predominantly affecting children and most commonly presenting in the first 5 years of life2. Each year in Australia, approximately 50 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma, with about half of these cases being classified as high risk neuroblastoma3,4. Neuroblastoma originates in the body’s nerve cells (neuroblasts) and typically presents as a primary tumour in the adrenal glands5. It is considered an aggressive tumour because it often spreads to other parts of the body (metastasizes). In most cases, it has spread by the time it is diagnosed5.
"We are committed to improving the lives of children and their families living with high-risk neuroblastoma" said Gus Rudolph, General Manager, Norgine, Australia. "This rare childhood cancer has devastating consequences for those impacted and while more needs to be done to improve treatment outcomes, we would like to recognise the TGA for their work to-date on this approval. Norgine will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders to bring IFINWIL to patients as quickly as possible."
"This approval, as part of the Project Orbis initiative, represents a vital step forward in ensuring access to innovative cancer treatments for patients around the world," said Dr. David Gillen, Chief Medical Officer, Norgine. "By working collaboratively with international regulatory partners, we are able to help bring promising therapies to paediatric patients sooner – a goal that is especially important when time is critical. We’re proud to support Project Orbis as we strive to expedite access to high-impact oncology medicines."
Receiving the TGA approval is an important milestone on the path to realising sustainable and equitable access. IFINWIL is not currently included on the PBS.
Please refer to the IFINWIL Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) for full safety information on risks, side effects and precautions including the risk of low red blood cells (anaemia), low neutrophils (blood cells that fight infection), low platelets (clotting cells), increase in liver enzymes, and hearing loss or problems balancing.1
Notes to Editors:
About IFINWIL
IFINWIL has been investigated for use as a post maintenance treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) in paediatric patients with no active disease (NAD) / no evidence of disease (NED) after first line multiagent, multimodality therapy.6 IFINWIL is a therapy that blocks an enzyme called ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) responsible for producing polyamines, which are important to tumour growth and development 7.
For more information on IFINWIL, find the CMI here: IFINWIL Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) or the Therapeutic Goods Administration at View Source or speak to your healthcare practitioner.
High-Risk Neuroblastoma (HRNB) Treatment Background
Children diagnosed with HRNB undergo an intense treatment regimen that still leaves them vulnerable to relapse and death.8 Although there have been some improvements in survival, children with high risk neuroblastoma still face a 30% chance of recurrence (relapse) within the first 5 years post maintenance, and have an extremely poor prognosis and low likelihood of long term survival9 (e.g. estimates as low as 15% of patients will live for five years after relapsing).10 Avoiding relapse is key to long-term survival, and until now, there have been no approved therapies for the post maintenance treatment period in major markets outside of the United States11.
About Project Orbis
Project Orbis is an initiative (since May 2019) of the US FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) and provides a framework for concurrent submission and collaborative review of innovative oncology products among international regulatory authorities. It was created with the overarching goal to speed worldwide patient access to innovative cancer therapies. Project Orbis is coordinated by the FDA, and its partners include United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products regulatory Agency (UK MHRA), Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Canada (Health Canada), Singapore (Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Switzerland (Swissmedic), Brazil (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), Israel (Ministry of Health).
In April 2024, Norgine submitted an application for approval of eflornithine in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), via Project Orbis in Australia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This milestone supports Norgine’s efforts to deliver patient access to eflornithine and bring a further treatment option in the field of paediatric oncology.