JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC and SpePharm Holding, BV announced the successful closing of an asset purchase agreement, pursuant to which, JHP and SpePharm acquired global rights to Procter & Gamble's Dantrium product (dantrolene sodium). In its intravenous form, Dantrium is used to treat malignant hyperthermia (a life-threatening reaction to certain gaseous anaesthetics) and in its oral form, the control of clinical spasticity resulting from upper motor neuron disorders (e.g., spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis).

JHP Pharma acquired the rights to Dantrium for the US and Canada, including supply rights in Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Chile while SpePharm Holding, BV acquired the rights in the rest of the world.

While commenting on the acquisition, Stuart Hinchen, president of JHP said, "We are delighted to acquire the rights to Dantrium. This product will fit well into our current portfolio of marketed products which already includes exports to Canada and Australia."

Jean-Francois Labbé, chief executive officer of SpePharm, said, "We have been pleased to partner with JHP in this acquisition and secure Procter & Gamble's rights to Dantrium in the rest of the world (excluding the JHP territories). In Europe Dantrium will receive support from SpePharm's growing hospital sales and marketing infrastructure."

JHP, head quartered in New Jersey, is a specialty pharmaceutical company which manufactures and sells pharmaceutical products, primarily aseptic injectable products into the hospital segment, and provides contract manufacturing of sterile products for innovator pharmaceutical companies.

SpePharm Holding, B.V. is a Dutch company with its registered office in Amsterdam, and its European operations based in Paris, France. SpePharm is an emerging pan-European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, registering and marketing high medical value specialty medicines essentially for the hospital market.