CANbridge Life Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company focussed on developing western drug candidates in China and North Asia, has entered into an exclusive partnership with EUSA Pharma, a Jazz Pharmaceuticals company, to commercialise Caphosol in China.
Under the terms of the agreement, CANbridge obtains exclusive rights to commercialise Caphosol in China, where over 3.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed each year, and there is little in the way of a standard adjunct therapy to treat oral mucositis.
“Caphosol represents the second oncology product we will commercialise in China and will meet a severely underserved medical need in China” said CANbridge founder and chief executive officer, James Xue. Xue was also the former general manager of Genzyme China. “Our agreement with EUSA Pharma represents our strategy of partnering with Western companies to commercialise treatments that will profoundly improve quality-of-life for patients in China and North Asia. With the addition of Caphosol and other follow-on products, CANbridge is expanding its footprint in oncology and will evolve into a commercial- stage company in the foreseeable future.”
Caphosol is a prescription medical device, approved in the United States and European Union, designed to moisten, lubricate and clean the oral cavity including the mucosa of the mouth, tongue and oropharynx. In the United States, Caphosol is indicated for dryness of the mouth or throat and as an adjunct to standard oral care in treating the mucositis that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy. Within the European Union, Caphosol is indicated for the above as well as an adjunct to standard oral care in the prevention of the mucositis, that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy.
An estimated 40per cent of chemotherapy patients, 70per cent of bone marrow transplant patients and 97 per cent of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation therapy develop oral mucositis. This can lead to ulceration and pain, as well as difficulty swallowing, changes in the voice and life-threatening sepsis. Oral mucositis can affect many functions of the mouth, including drinking, eating and speaking and may necessitate total parenteral nutrition (TPN), morphine for pain relief and may delay discharge. Oral mucositis may also interrupt treatment, increase costs and threaten life.
CANbridge has been actively developing partnerships with Western companies of which the products or drug candidates could make a profound impact to the quality of life of Chinese patients. To those with limited resource to develop and commercialise these products in China on their own, CANbridge’s expertise and presence in China offers an attractive alternative.
Caphosol, is a patented, oral electrolyte solution designed to moisten, lubricate and clean the oral cavity including the mucosa of the mouth, tongue and oropharynx. In the United States, Caphosol is indicated for dryness of the mouth or throat (hyposalivation, xerostomia), regardless of the cause and regardless of whether the conditions are temporary or permanent. Caphosol is also indicated as an adjunct to standard oral care in treating the mucositis that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy.
In the European Union, Caphosol is a Class I CE marked medical device indicated for dryness of the mouth and oropharynx (hyposalivation, xerostomia), regardless of the cause and regardless of whether the condition is temporary or permanent. Caphosol is also indicated as an adjunct to standard oral care in the prevention and treatment of the mucositis that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy.Relief of dryness of the oral mucosa in these conditions is associated with amelioration of pain.