Eurand, a global specialty pharmaceutical company, and Nycomed, a privately owned global pharmaceutical company, have announced an exclusive commercialization, license and supply agreement for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as Georgia and Mongolia. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Nycomed Russia-CIS will market and distribute ZENPEP® (pancrelipase) delayed-release capsules in Russia and CIS, as well as Georgia and Mongolia, subject to regulatory review and approval of the product in those territories.
ZENPEP is an FDA-approved pancreatic enzyme product (PEP) indicated for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis or other conditions, such as chronic pancreatitis, gastrointestinal surgery and pancreatic cancer. Eurand markets ZENPEP directly in the US through its own sales force.
“This agreement represents an important development in our international marketing strategy for ZENPEP,” said Andrew Thompson, Eurand’s vice president, commercial operations. “Nycomed is one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies in Russia, and we are very confident of their ability to maximize the value of ZENPEP in that market. We look forward to working with Nycomed in pursuing regulatory approval for this product in the important Russia-CIS region.”
“Nycomed is excited at the prospect of launching ZENPEP into the Russia-CIS market, where we are launching our recently established gastrointestinal product portfolio,” said Jostein Davidson, senior vice president, Nycomed Group, and president, Nycomed Russia-CIS. “We believe ZENPEP, which has been specifically formulated to meet the FDA’s stringent guidelines for PEPs, will offer physicians an important new treatment option for their patients with pancreatic insufficiency.”
Russia-CIS is a significant market for PEPs, which is dominated by digestive disorders such as chronic pancreatitis. According to data provided by IMS Health Incorporated, the PEP market in this region was estimated to be approximately €93.5m ($130.5m) in 2009.