Pharmion appoints new distributor

Pharmion Corporation, of Boulder, Colorado, has appointed Swiss pharmaceutical company Lipomed as its exclusive distributor of Thalidomide Pharmion in Switzerland and Austria. Lipomed will also act as Pharmion's distributor partner in those countries for Refludan and Vidaza.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lipomed will exclusively distribute Thalidomide Pharmion 50mg in Austria and Switzerland and stop selling its own formulation of thalidomide in Austria, Switzerland and all other European markets. Both parties have also agreed to terminate ongoing patent infringement litigation.

Pharmion currently sells thalidomide on a compassionate use and named patient basis in Europe and certain other rest-of-world markets while seeking regulatory approval for this drug for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Lipomed will use the Pharmion Risk Management Program to control the use and distribution of thalidomide, and requires all patients to complete an informed consent process and to participate in a confidential surveillance registry.