EU reviewers have recommended five new medicines and a pneumococcal vaccine for EU-wide approval. New uses of several approved medicines have also drawn the thumbs up, while the sponsor of a cancer drug has withdrawn its product from the review process.

Sponsors of six new products, including a first-in-class treatment for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, will find out this week if their products are on course to be approved for use in the EU. Also, two sponsors might be asked to address last-minute questions about their drugs.

Japanese firm's decision to end development of entinostat in its licensed territories marks possibly final blow to development of the HDAC inhibitor in breast cancer. 

The deal could nevertheless give Incyte a competitive edge, especially with combination potential between its JAK inhibitors and Syndax’s axatilimab.