BioAlliance Pharma SA, the specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of opportunistic infections in cancer and AIDS, announced the initiation of its European marketing application for ondansetron RapidFilm, the fast-dissolving oral film strip formulation of ondansetron (which until now has been used in tablet form). This innovation is designed to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Ondansetron RapidFilm facilitates administration of the drug and improves efficacy and patient compliance. The ondansetron film uses the RapidFilm drug delivery technology developed in joint venture by APR Applied Pharma Research s.a. (APR) of Switzerland and Labtec GmbH of Germany and enables novel oral dosing via a fast-dissolving film strip. The formulation is particularly suitable for patients with nausea or who have trouble swallowing.
In Europe, antiemetic drugs represent the main component of cancer supportive care and accounted for annual sales totalling over €400 million in the five largest markets in 2007. Ondansetron was the leading drug in its class in 2007, with around 800,000 prescriptions. BioAlliance Pharma estimates that the decentralized registration procedure (covering 16 European countries) should take between 9 and 12 months. Dominique Costantini, BioAlliance Pharma's president and CEO, stated that 'iling for marketing authorization in Europe via a decentralized procedure is a key milestone for our company on the road to commercialization of this new product. Our pharmaceutical, clinical and regulatory teams are fully committed to driving this application forward'.
"RapidFilm technology aims to provide the quickest, easiest and most patient friendly way for the oral intake of drugs," said Paolo Galfetti CEO of APR. "Ondansetron was an ideally candidate to maximize both the patient and the market value of such feature and we believe BioAlliance is the best partner to bring this opportunity to a successful outcome in the market."
BioAlliance Pharma is a specialty biopharmaceutical company which develops and markets innovative products, especially in the fields of opportunistic infections and chemotherapy complications.
APR is an international drug research & development company headquartered in Switzerland. Its core business is the development of its own prescription drugs.