Eisai Co Ltd. Has terminated the licensing agreement of the triazole-type anti-fungal agent (generic: ravuconazole) with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Eisai will now proceed with an independent development programme for ravuconazole mainly in the US.

Ravuconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal triazole originally discovered by Eisai for treatment of systemic fungal infections such as candidiasis, aspergillosis and cryptococcal meningitis. Eisai and Bristol-Myers Squibb signed a licensing agreement for ravuconazole in December 1996. And Bristol-Myers Squibb has conducted clinical development of ravuconazole.

Based on the agreement signed this month, Eisai will reacquire the worldwide manufacturing, development and marketing rights of ravuconazole. Ravuconazole is currently in phase II clinical development. Preliminary data suggest that ravuconazole shows clear advantages over currently used triazoles. Ravuconazole shows a promising advance in antifungals for the treatment of immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV infection, or cancer, and organ transplant patients, who are at risk for developing serious fungal infections, release from Eisai said.