Merck KGaA will acquire most of the global rights for the cancer treatment UFT (tegafur-uracil), used for the treatment of colorectal cancer, from Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. of Japan. Taiho will supply the capsules to Merck for its territories and will retain rights in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

UFT, an oral chemotherapy that already has marketing approval in approximately 60 countries, will complement Merck’s current treatment for colorectal cancer, the monoclonal antibody Erbitux. Erbitux is approved in 39 countries around the world.

“We see this as an excellent opportunity to extend our product portfolio, particularly in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer,” Elmar J. Schnee, President of Global Ethical Pharmaceuticals for Merck KgaA said adding, “Our sales representatives are already discussing Erbitux with oncologists who specialize in the treatment of gastro-intestinal cancers. Adding UFT to the discussion is a natural fit, even though Erbitux and UFT are intended for different stages of treatment.”

UFT is an oral chemotherapy administered with folinic acid (FA) for first-line treatment of colorectal cancer that has metastasized to other parts of the body.

Merck acquired UFT after Bristol-Myers Squibb returned worldwide rights of the product to Taiho Pharmaceutical. UFT is approved in countries throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. It is not approved in the United States.