LAUSANNNE, Switzerland and CHIBA, Japan, October 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a global independent biopharmaceutical development specialist in oncology and serious medical conditions, and NanoCarrier Co., Ltd. (NanoCarrier) today announced the signature of a License and Supply Agreement for DACH-Platin Polymeric Micelle (Debio 0507/NC-4016), MediCelle(TM) technology, owned by NanoCarrier, currently in late preclinical development by Debiopharm for use in oncology. Phase I clinical studies are expected to start in 2008 in Europe and / or USA.
Under the terms of the agreement:
- NanoCarrier grants Debiopharm an exclusive license, with the right to sublicense, develop and commercialize DACH-Platin Polymeric Micelle worldwide excluding Japan.
- Debiopharm will provide NanoCarrier exclusively with the starting material of DACH-platin, and NanoCarrier will manufacture and provide DACH-Platin Polymeric Micelle solely to Debiopharm.
- Debiopharm will cover costs related to the manufacture of DACH-Platin Polymeric Micelle and will pay NanoCarrier an up-front and milestones, as well as running royalties for the license.
- NanoCarrier will pay Debiopharm for the use of Debiopharm’s data or intellectual property upon registration in Japan.
Debiopharm will be fully responsible for the development of DACH-Platin Polymeric Micelle. The collaboration between the two companies started in 2005, when NanoCarrier granted Debiopharm the exclusive option to license-in a DACH-platin-PEG-polyglutamic acid (DACH Platin MediCelle(TM)) from NanoCarrier, for use in oncology.
About DACH-Platin Micelle
DACH-platin is an active metabolite of Oxaliplatin, which shows stronger anticancer activity. Oxaliplatin is an anticancer drug effective against progressive and relapsed colon cancer. However, it may cause severe peripheral neuropathy like numbness. Because of its hydrophobic feature, it was difficult to formulate DACH-platin, but by using micellar nanoparticles, we believe we can develop a new, more effective DACH-platin anticancer drug with possible lower side effects.
The basic technology of this formulation was invented by Professor Kataoka of the University of Tokyo. The technology was licensed in from TOUDAI TLO Ltd. The basic Japanese patent for DACH-platin micelle has been granted as Patent No. 39955992 in May 2007.
About Debiopharm Group
Debiopharm Group is a global biopharmaceutical development specialist that in-licenses promising biologics and small molecule drug candidates. Debiopharm develops its products for global registration and maximum commercial potential for out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing.
Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Debiopharm has developed three products: Eloxatin(R), Decapeptyl(R) and Trelstar(R) with global combined sales in excess of $2.6 billion in 2006.
For more information on Debiopharm Group, please visit: http://www.debiopharm.com.
About NanoCarrier Co., Ltd.
NanoCarrier is a biotech that focuses on the research and development of drugs primarily in the field of cancer with micellar nanoparticles technology. Micellar nanoparticles (also known as polymeric micelle) are formed from biocompatible block copolymers which consist of a hydrophilic polymer, polyethyleneglycol (PEG), and a hydrophobic polymer, polyamino acid derivative.
By encapsulating drugs efficiently inside, micellar nanoparticles work as functional particles that stay in bloodstream for a long period of time and deliver drugs preferentially to targeted sites, thus minimizing unfavourable side effects and improving therapeutic efficacy. To date, two anticancer drugs have proceeded to clinical trials.
CONTACT: Debiopharm S.A. Contacts: Kim Bill, VP Corporate Development,
Tel.: +41(0)21-321-01-11, Fax: +41(0)21-321-01-69, kbill@debiopharm.com;
Additional Media Contacts: In London, Maitland, Brian Hudspith, Tel:
+44(0)20-7379-5151, bhudspith@maitland.co.uk; In New York, Russo Partners,
LLC, Wendy Lau, Tel: +1-212-845-4272, Fax: +1-212-845-4260,
wendy.lau@russopartnersllc.com; NanoCarrier Contacts: Takuya Matsuda,
General Manager, President’s Office, Tel.: +81-(0)3-3548-0213, Fax:
+81-(0)3-3548-0214, info@nanocarrier.co.jp
