Helsinn and Italfarmaco in license agreement for palonosetron in Spain

Published: 9-Mar-2004

Swiss pharmaceutical group Helsinn Healthcare has granted Italfarmaco the exclusive license and distribution rights for palonosetron (Onicit) in Spain.


Swiss pharmaceutical group Helsinn Healthcare has granted Italfarmaco the exclusive license and distribution rights for palonosetron (Onicit) in Spain.

Palonosetron is a potent, highly selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

Last July it was approved in US for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately and highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy and for the prevention of delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy. Palonosetron is commercialised in the US under the tradename Alox by MGI Pharma, while in Europe the product is under regulatory review and will be marketed under the tradename Onicit.

'Italfarmaco has a strong interest in oncology and palonosetron is a good fit,' said Dr Francesco De Santis, chairman of Italfarmaco. 'Being a European company. we decided to have this product for both our affiliates in Italy and in Spain, and we are happy to extend our commercial relationship with Helsinn to Spain for the first time.'

  

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