Alpharma Inc, a global specialty pharmaceutical company, has entered into a three-year agreement with MGI PHARMA Inc, an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, for the promotion of Alpharma's Kadian product, a sustained release morphine sulphate, according to a company release.

Under the terms of this agreement, MGI PHARMA will market Kadian in the United States to oncology health care professionals for moderate to severe pain associated with cancer. Kadian is currently marketed by Alpharma to pain specialists in the United States.

Alpharma and MGI PHARMA will share profit contribution related to sales of Kadian for oncology applications. Additional financial terms and details of the agreement were not disclosed. MGI PHARMA expects to launch Kadian into the oncology market during the second half of 2004.

"This partnership is an initial step in positioning Kadian for further growth," commented Carl-Aake Carlsson, president of Alpharma's Branded Products business. "Kadian is currently not marketed to oncology health care professionals so this agreement represents an opportunity to further develop this brand. We continue to explore other alliances to promote Kadian," he added further.