Irvine-based Spectrum Pharmaceutical Inc.’s shares closed up 6% Monday after the Food and Drug Administration accepted an application for a new use for its cancer drug Zevalin.
The drug maker is seeking approval to expand use of Zevalin to more patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood disease.
The FDA asked for more clinical trial information earlier this month.
Zevalin is already approved for people with more advanced forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and who have been treated previously with other drugs.
Spectrum hopes to see the drug approved as an early treatment for the disease.
The FDA is expected to deliver a ruling on the revised application Sept. 7.
Spectrum is the fourth company to own the drug since it was approved in 2001.
Zevalin’s previous owners include Idec Pharmaceuticals, its successor, Biogen Idec Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., and Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics Inc.
Spectrum acquired 100% of Zevalin’s sales and marketing rights that previously were in a venture between itself and Cell Therapeutics earlier this year.
