Debiopharm S.A., the independent drug-development company specialising in oncology, endocrinology and niche products, has announced that Elplat (oxaliplatin), a new generation of platinum derivatives licensed-in and developed by Debiopharm for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, was granted marketing approval in Japan by the ministry of health, labour and welfare for the treatment of inoperable advanced and recurrent carcinoma of the colon and the rectum. Elplat, licensed-out to Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (Yakult), is one of the few oncology products to have received a priority review in Japan.

Oxaliplatin has been approved as an anticancer agent in over 60 countries worldwide and is currently marketed as Eloxatin in Europe and the US by sanofi-aventis, Debiopharm's other major licensee. Eloxatin is the leading therapy for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer worldwide.

Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, president and CEO of Debiopharm said, "This opens up an important new market for our life-saving therapy. Yakult is an excellent commercial company and we look forward to providing Japanese patients with a valuable therapy."

The incidence of colorectal cancer in Japan is constantly growing and should represent 115000 cases in 2005. This number is expected to reach 140000 by 2010.

Debio is an established group of four complementary companies, Debiopharm, Debioinnovation, Debio R.P. and Debioclinic. Debiopharm, founded in 1979 in Lausanne, Switzerland, focuses on evaluating compounds with promising in-vivo results in animals to in-license, develop for global registration, and out-license to sales and marketing pharmaceutical partners.