Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a commercial stage biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology, and Handok Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, a fully integrated Korean pharmaceutical company, announced a collaboration for the development and commercialization of apaziquone in South Korea. Apaziquone is an antineoplastic agent currently being investigated for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer by intravesical instillation.
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has previously entered into a strategic collaboration with Allergan, Inc for North America, Europe, and other key markets and Nippon Kayaku Co, Ltd for Asian countries excluding South Korea.
"This collaboration with Handok completes the Company's stated objective of achieving solid strategic partnerships that are aimed at fully exploiting developmental goals for apaziquone on a worldwide basis," said Rajesh C Shrotriya, Chairman of the Board, chief executive officer, and president of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. "Handok Pharmaceuticals is one of South Korea's most progressive pharmaceutical companies and we are delighted to partner apaziquone with an established Korean company."
"Apaziquone is a strategic fit for Handok," said Young-Jin Kim, chief executive officer and chairman of Handok. "Urology is one of the areas where we are trying to expand and we believe Spectrum's apaziquone will strengthen our presence in the field. We look forward to working with Spectrum in developing apaziquone for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in South Korea."
Under the terms of the agreement, Handok will pay Spectrum an upfront payment and potential milestone payments totalling over US$ 19MM. The potential milestones will be based on the achievement of certain regulatory and commercialization milestones. Handok received rights to apaziquone for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in South Korea. Handok will conduct the apaziquone clinical trials pursuant to a development plan and will be responsible for all expenses relating to the development and commercialization of apaziquone in South Korea.
Spectrum is currently conducting two phase-3 clinical trials to investigate apaziquone's safety and efficacy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Spectrum's goal is to complete enrolment in both phase-3 studies by year-end 2009.
Apaziquone, an anti-cancer agent that becomes activated by reductase enzymes found in cancer cells, is formulated for administration directly into the urinary bladder.
Handok Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd, (002390 KS), based in Seoul, Korea, is a company posting 275B KRW in pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and OTC sales in 2008.
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology.