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09/23/2004
CANCER DRUG OUTLICENSED TO SOPHERION THERAPEUTICS INC. US FIRST FOR ZENEUS PHARMA
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Zeneus Pharma Limited, formerly Medeus Pharma, the global specialty pharma company with direct sales in 17 European countries, announces an outlicensing deal with Sopherion Therapeutics, Inc., a US based biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of anti-cancer therapies. This is the first time Zeneus Pharma has outlicensed one of its drugs to a third party. Myocet, a novel formulation of a gold-standard cancer chemotherapeutic, has been approved by the European and Canadian regulatory agencies for first line therapy in combination with cyclophosphamide for women with metastatic breast cancer and is sold by the Zeneus Pharma sales force in Europe.
Sopherion intends to launch Myocet in Canada no later than the second quarter of 2005. In the United States, Sopherion will manage the regulatory process and, pending FDA approval, be responsible for the marketing and sales of this therapy. To date, several large clinical trials of Myocet have been completed in the United States and Europe. Sopherion intends to conduct additional clinical studies prior to filing a New Drug Application. Final terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but they consist of an upfront payment, milestones and royalties.
Bryan Morton, Chief Executive Officer, Zeneus Pharma, said:
“We are delighted by the prospect of launching Myocet in North America and we believe that Sopherion is the best partner to help us achieve this successfully. The team at Zeneus Pharma are extremely excited about entering the US market as this reinforces the global aspect of our specialty pharma business.”
Ronald H. Goldfarb, Ph.D., President and CEO of Sopherion Therapeutics, said:
“Having been the head of cancer research institutes and anti-cancer drug discovery programs in the United States, I believe Myocet has a great deal of potential for patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer. Sopherion is now ramping up to launch Myocet in Canada and finalizing our US regulatory strategy, and we are excited to commercialize this in North America. ”
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