Ekr Therapeutics, Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire exclusive North American license and distribution rights for Gelclair from Helsinn Healthcare SA, a privately owned pharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland. Gelclair is the product specifically designed and approved by the FDA for the management of pain associated with oral mucositis / stomatitis.

"This is a significant milestone for EKR", commented Howard Weisman, chairman and CEO. "Gelclair is the first of several planned product acquisitions in the area of oncology supportive care. These types of products are becoming an increasingly essential part of the total care of cancer patients as they help to improve the quality of life while undergoing aggressive treatments in a variety of tumour types."

"We are excited about our partnership with Helsinn, which markets Gelclair successfully through top tier companies around the world," says Cathy Kerzner, president and COO. "The acquisition of Gelclair coincides with the launch of our US sales force, which will be working with key institutions and private practice physicians to incorporate Gelclair into their treatment plans for patients suffering from oral mucositis."

"Helsinn is delighted to enter this new agreement with Ekr Therapeutics, said Dr Riccardo Braglia, MD of Helsinn Healthcare, and is confident that Ekr Therapeutics will successfully secure Gelclair a first ranking position in the North American market and thereby allow patients in this territory suffering from oral mucositis / stomatitis to benefit from this drug and improve their quality of life.

Gelclair is a bio-adherent oral gel with a mechanical action indicated for the management of pain and relief of pain by adhering to the mucosal surface of the mouth, soothing oral lesions of various etiologies, including oral mucostis / stomatitis which may be caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Oral mucositis has been reported in 15-40 per cent of patients receiving stomatoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy, 70-90 per cent of stem cell transplant recipients, and 100 per cent of patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy (doses >5000 cGy). Severe oral mucositis may result in a reduction in the dose of chemotherapy or a delay in treatment.