Merck Serono's Cladribine Tablets for MS Approved in Australia

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Cladribine Tablets for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS)(1). Cladribine Tablets will be registered in Australia under the trade name Movectro(R).
"Approval of Cladribine Tablets in Australia is another step forward in our commitment to fight the devastating disease of multiple sclerosis by providing new therapeutic options meeting unmet needs," said Elmar Schnee, President of Merck Serono. "Australia is the second country to approve Cladribine Tablets and we will continue our efforts to gain approval of Cladribine Tablets in other countries so that more patients can benefit from this oral disease-modifying therapy."
Cladribine Tablets, also under the trade name Movectro(R), became the first oral MS treatment in the world to gain marketing authorization when health authorities in Russia approved it in July 2010. Merck Serono initiated global submissions for Cladribine Tablets in mid-2009 and to date has submitted regulatory applications for Cladribine Tablets covering about 40 countries.
(1) The indication approved by the TGA is: "Movectro is indicated for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis for a maximum duration of two years."