Megapharm to market Kineret and Kepivance in Israel
This article was originally published in Scrip
Megapharm is to exclusively distribute and market Biovitrum's Kineret (anakinra) and Kepivance (palifermin) in Israel for five years. Financial details were not disclosed.
The products will be filed in Israel this autumn and approval is expected in 2010.
Megapharm, a private biotechnology marketing company, was founded in 1989 and represents US and European pharmaceutical companies in the country.
Biovitrum bought Kineret, Kepivance and Stemgen (ancestim) from Amgen for $130 million last year to expand internationally and to strengthen its top line and cash flow (scripnews.com, September 15th, 2008).
Kineret is indicated in the US for reducing signs,symptoms and structural damage in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis aged 18 years of age or older who have failed one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Kepivance is indicated for oral mucositis in patients with haematological cancers.