Meda and Cipla Ltd, a leading pharma company in India, have expanded the existing long term collaboration agreement for the combination of azelastine and fluticasone.

Azelastine is an antihistamine and fluticasone a corticosteroid; both are indicated for nasal treatment of allergic rhinitis. As mono substances (in the antihistamine and corticosteroid markets respectively) they have leading positions in the US In the future, a combination of azelastine and fluticasone in a nasal formulation, may give patients with allergic rhinitis a more effective treatment than current therapies.

In collaboration with Cipla, Meda has been developing this combination for the North American markets during the past years. The product is currently in phase III and the remaining clinical studies are expected to be completed during the second half of 2010.

Meda and Cipla have now agreed to extend the collaboration to include other key markets such as Europe, Japan, Brazil, South Korea and Australia, a Meda press release said.

"This product could become the first combination of an antihistamine and corticosteroid in a nasal formulation, which would strengthen Meda's position in the allergy area. I'm delighted that we have expanded our rights to this product", said Anders Lönner, CEO Meda AB.

Meda will pay Cipla 5 MUSD upon regulatory approval in the first market and up to 10 MUSD as other milestone payments. Cipla will manufacture the product.