Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Enters Into Exclusive License Agreement With QuatRx Pharmaceuticals To Market Ospemifene
OSAKA, Japan, ATLANTA and ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, today announced that they have entered into a worldwide license agreement to develop and market ospemifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator ("SERM").
Patrick Fourteau, President and CEO of Shionogi Pharma, Inc., a US-based group company of Shionogi, said, "All of us at Shionogi are excited about the potential of ospemifene and, upon FDA approval, we look forward to bringing the first non-estrogen treatment option to millions of women in the US who are living with post-menopausal vulvovaginal atrophy. Our efforts to market ospemifene represent an important step in our strategy to further diversify Shionogi Pharma's Women's Health portfolio and broaden the Company's R&D pipeline."
Robert L. Zerbe M.D., CEO and Co-Founder of QuatRx, said, "QuatRx is very pleased to have completed the comprehensive development program for ospemifene. Pending regulatory approval, the results of our clinical research for ospemifene indicate that this promising non-estrogen therapy could play a significant role in the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy in the years ahead. Shionogi is the ideal company to successfully support the effort to commercialize ospemifene in the U.S. and around the world."
About Shionogi & Co., Ltd.
Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is a major research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to placing the highest value on patients. Shionogi's Research and Development currently targets three therapeutic areas: Infectious Diseases, Pain, and Metabolic Syndrome. The Company has provided such innovative medicines as Crestor and Doripenem, which have been successfully delivered to millions of patients. In addition, Shionogi is engaged in new research areas such as allergy and cancer. Contributing to the health of patients around the world through development in these therapeutic areas is Shionogi's primary goal. For more details, please visit www.shionogi.co.jp. For more information on Shionogi Pharma, Inc. based in Atlanta, Georgia, please visit www.shionogipharma.com.
CONTACT: Julia Owens, +1-734-913-9900 x121, jowens@quatrx.com
Web site: http://www.quatrx.com/