Helsinn, Mundipharma strategic deal for anamorelin

About the deal:

Helsinn, the Swiss pharmaceutical Group focused on building quality cancer care, have entered into distribution, license and supply agreements with Mundipharma and its network of independent associated companies granting exclusive rights to anamorelin in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.

Under the terms of the new agreements, Helsinn retains all development rights as well as regulatory and clinical development activities in the above mentioned countries and the supply of anamorelin to Mundipharma for commercial use. Mundipharma obtains exclusive rights to marketing, distribution and sales of anamorelin in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.

Helsinn already has existing alliances with Mundipharma, for anamorelin, in Brazil, Middle East and North Africa, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

About Anamorelin

Anamorelin is a novel, once-daily, orally active ghrelin receptor agonist in development for the treatment of Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia in patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), an area of significant unmet medical need. Also known as the wasting syndrome, Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia has characteristics such as reduced appetite/food intake and unintended weight loss (mainly due to muscle loss) which are known to lead to early deaths of people with cancer.

It is estimated that over 50% of late-stage cancer patients suffer from cancer anorexia-cachexia.

Anamorelin has been shown to significantly increase lean body mass and appetite in two pivotal Phase III studies, aspects that strongly impact the quality of life for people with Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia.