Ethypharm, VIATRIS' tramadol Flashtab

French drug-delivery firm Ethypharm and VIATRIS (formerly Asta Medica)of Germany have entered into a collaboration to develop an innovate oral formulation of tramadol for the relief of moderate-to-severe pain, using the former's Flashtab technology.

Under the terms of this deal, Ethypharm is responsible for product development, production and registration, and VIATRIS will market and distribute the novel Flashtab version of tramadol broadly in Europe. The French firm will receive undisclosed upfront and milestone payments from VIATRIS, as well as royalties on sales.

Tramadol is a synthetic, centrally-acting analgesic, structurally related to codeine and morphine. It is the fourth most-commonly prescribed analgesic worldwide for moderate-to-severe pain, and sales of the immediate-release form in Europe run at about 107 million euros ($103.8 million) a year, of which tramadol Flashtab hopes to gain a 25% market share in 2005.