Meda licenses imiquimod for actinic keratosis from Graceway
This article was originally published in Scrip
Swedish speciality pharma group Meda has bought from Graceway Pharmaceuticals the European rights to a new version of the topical immunomodulator imiquimod, which it currently markets for actinic keratosis at a higher strength under the trade name Aldara.
It will pay an undisclosed upfront fee and a single-digit royalty on net sales for exclusive European rights to the 3.75% topical cream for actinic keratosis; Aldara's strength is 5%. 2009 sales of Aldara were about SEK500 million ($65 million).
Aldara can cause intense local inflammatory reactions, and is only indicated for treatment of areas up to 25cm2. The lower strength imiquimod, which was recently approved in the US and Canada under the trade name Zyclara (scripnews.com, 29 March 2010), can treat larger areas with improved tolerability. Zyclara is for daily use over a six-week dosing cycle consisting of two weeks of treatment followed by two weeks of no treatment and a further two weeks of treatment. Aldara is dosed twice-weekly over 16 weeks.
The patent for the new formulation is pending. Meda also has exclusive rights to follow-up products under development by Graceway.