Atrix Laboratories Inc has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Key Oncologics Ltd. for the South African marketing rights for its Eligard (leuprolide acetate for injectable suspension) prostate cancer products. Key Oncologics will be responsible for all required regulatory submissions. Atrix will manufacture the products for Key Oncologics in the facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.

"We are pleased to be working with Key Oncologics to move Eligard into a new marketplace," said Dr. Charles Cox, senior vice president of corporate development. "This new agreement is part of our overall global expansion strategy for the Eligard prostate cancer products."

Key Oncologics Ltd. specializes and focuses on covering all needs related to cancer treatments in both the government and private sectors. The company has licensing agreements with several other leading drug developers including Chiron for distribution of Proleukin and Gilead Sciences Inc for AmBisome and DaunoXome.

Eligard 7.5mg, once-a-month, and Eligard 22.5mg, once-every-three-months prostate cancer product, was approved in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) early this year. The FDA is reviewing New Drug Applications (NDAs) for the approval of Eligard 30mg four-month prostate cancer product.