Sanofi-aventis and Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. have signed an agreement giving sanofi-aventis the rights to develop and market an oral anticancer agent, S-l, a proprietary product from Taiho.
S-l is a new oral pyrimidine fluoride- derived anticancer agent in which a pro-drug of 5-FluoroUracil (5-FU), Tegafur, is combined with 2 inhibitors of enzymes to increase the amount of circulating 5-FU with less gastrointestinal toxicity.
S-l has been marketed in Japan since 1999. Today the drug is prescribed in the following indications: Gastric cancer, Coloreetal cancer, Head and Neck cancer, Non-small cell lung cancer, Inoperable or Recurrent breast cancer
Sales based on NHI (National Health Insurance) price reached JPY 31 billion in 2005. The product is currently in phase III in Europe, the United States and other countries, a Sanofi aventis release stated.
Under the terms of this agreement:
" Sanofi-aventis will lead and fund the development of the product worldwide, except in Japan and in certain Asian countries
" Sanofi-aventis will be responsible for the commercialization of the product worldwide, except in Japan and certain Asian countries
" Taiho will participate in the development of the product and will have the option to participate in the promotion of the product in any country in which sanofi-aventis will commercialize the product
" Taiho will manufacture the product and supply it to sanofi-aventis
" Sanofi-aventis will make an upfront payment to Taiho, milestones payments at certain stages in the development and commercialization of the product, and will pay royalties on sales
" Taiho will retain The rights To develop and commercialize the product in Japan and certain other Asian countries
Upfront and milestones payments could reach USD 360 million.
The addition of S-l to the existing sanofi-aventis R&D portfolio should reinforce the Company's leading position in oncology and provide some significant advances for patients.
Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Taiho) is a company engaged in discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Taiho is one of the leading companies focused on oncology.