French drugmaker Servier has acquired blood cancer treatment Pixuvri from US-based CTI BioPharma for an undisclosed sum.

Pixuvri is a treatment for adults with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, a blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system and can occur in different parts of the body and organs. Servier said it is both the eleventh most commonly diagnosed cancer and cause of cancer-related death worldwide.

CTI BioPharma has transferred worldwide rights to Servier, which has commercialized the drug (in all countries where approved) under exclusive license from the Seattle, Washington-based company.

“The acquisition of Pixuvri is an important step towards Servier’s long-term strategy to become a key player in oncology,” said Claude Bertrand, executive vice president, global head of R&D at Servier.

“Within oncology, one of our key focuses is hematology, and we now have two medicines that are marketed globally alongside a strong and innovative pipeline of drug candidates which includes CAR-T therapies. As part of our strategy, we are committed to invest 50% of our R&D budget in oncology.”

The European Union approved the drug in June this year.