Zactima was expected to be used, in combination with chemotherapy, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have received prior anticancer therapy. The original application for the marketing authorization for Zactima was submitted to the Agency on 30 June 2009. At the time of the withdrawal, it was under review by the Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

In its official letter, AstraZeneca stated that the withdrawal of the application was based on the preliminary comments from the Rapporteur and Co-Rapporteur, which indicate that at this point in time, the Committee would be unlikely to conclude a favourable benefit–risk balance for the product in the treatment of NSCLC in combination with chemotherapy.

More information about Zactima and the state of the scientific assessment at the time of withdrawal will be made available in a question-and-answer document. This document, together with the withdrawal letter from the company, will be published on the Agency's website after the next CHMP meeting of 16–19 November 2009.

The withdrawal of an application does not affect the possibility of a company making a new application at a later stage.