Aeterna Zentaris licenses its anti-cancer Zoptrex in Australia and New Zealand

Aeterna Zentaris licenses its anti-cancer Zoptrex in Australia and New Zealand

October 14, 2016 Off By Dino Mustafić

Canadian biopharmaceutical company Aeterna Zentaris, Inc., has signed an additional licensing agreement with Specialised Therapeutics Asia (“STA”) for its anti-cancer compound, Zoptrex.

According to Aeterna’s co-development parner Ergomed, a UK-based provider of specialised services to the pharmaceutical industry, the agreement will be for the territories of Australia and New Zealand for an upfront payment plus milestones and royalties.  In line with Ergomed’s co-development agreement with Aeterna Zentaris, the Ergomed will receive a portion of all revenues generated from the commercialisation of the product.

Zoptrex, a synthetic peptide carrier linked to doxorubicin, is currently in a fully-enrolled Phase 3 clinical trial in endometrial cancer. Aeterna will, if the results of the trial warrant doing so, submit a new drug application for Zoptrex to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017. Zoptrex is the proposed tradename for zoptarelin doxorubicin.  The proposed tradename is subject to approval by the FDA.

Dr. Miroslav Reljanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Ergomed, said:

“This licensing agreement for Australia and New Zealand adds another two territories to the overall coverage now for Zoptrex™ and demonstrates the value of our co-development business.  In line with our strategy to expand our co-development business, we also recently announced a new partnership which together with this licensing agreement, further validates our hybrid business model.”