A P Pharma, Inc. and Rhei Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that A.P. Pharma has granted an exclusive license to Rhei Pharmaceuticals to develop and sell APF530 in Greater China, which for the purposes of this agreement includes China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

APF530 is currently in phase 3 trials in the US for the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

While specific license terms were not disclosed, the agreement calls for an upfront payment to A P Pharma and includes provisions for milestone payments and double-digit percentage royalties on future net sales.

"We are delighted to enter into our first international licensing agreement for APF530 as part of our ongoing strategy for regional partnerships with specialty pharmaceutical companies which are being actively pursued. We are encouraged by Rhei Pharmaceuticals' employees' track record of developing and marketing a number of cancer-related products in Greater China," said Michael O'Connell, CEO of A P Pharma. "Rhei provides the key factors to make APF530 a success in that region, including regulatory and marketing expertise combined with an experienced sales network with access to extensive hospital coverage."

Based in New Haven, Connecticut. Rhei is a specialty pharmaceutical company that acquires, licenses, develops and commercialises therapies in China. Rhei partners with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to expedite global development timelines and extend market entry to China.

"The development of oncology compounds is one of the core competencies at Rhei," said Dr Sylvia He, CEO of Rhei Pharmaceuticals. "As the incidence of cancer continues to grow in China, the use of chemotherapy agents also continues to rise. Therefore, we believe APF530 will fulfil an important role in cancer patient management."

APF530, which contains the 5HT(3) antagonist anti-nausea drug granisetron formulated with the company's proprietary Biochronomer bioerodible drug delivery system, is being developed for the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients undergoing either moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. No other 5HT(3) antagonist is currently approved for the prevention of both acute and delayed CINV for both moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy.