Singapore: Eisai EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia and Oceania), the R&D division of the Japan-based company, has opened a new business operation in Belgium with an office based in Brussels.

Belgium office will be responsible for marketing Eisai's Inovelon (rufinamide), indicated as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of epileptic seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients who are four years and older. The drug has been commercially available in Belgium since March 2012. Rufinamide was granted orphan drug status for adjunctive treatment of patients with this particularly hard-to-treat syndrome in October 2004.

Eisai has submitted Halaven (eribulin), an innovative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treatment, for local reimbursement approval by INAMI/RIZIV in Belgium. Eribulin received European Commission approval in March 2011 and is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or MBC who have progressed after at least two chemotherapeutic regimens for advanced disease. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline and a taxane unless women were not suitable for these treatments.

Commenting on the submission of eribulin for reimbursement approval in Belgium, Mr Nicolas Kormoss, medical director for Belgium and Luxemburg, Eisai EMEA, said, "Belgium has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in the world, with around 2,500 women dying from breast cancer every year. We hope the local health authorities recognise the clinical value that Halaven could bring to those in the country with advanced breast cancer."

Commenting on the opening of the new Belgium office Mr Gary Hendler, president and CEO, Eisai EMEA, said, "We are delighted to open an Eisai office in such a key European market, both to support Inovelon and to provide a solid base for the launch of Halaven in the future."