Access Pharma's MuGard OKed in China

USA-based specialist in supportive care for cancer patients Access Pharmaceuticals (OTCBB: ACCP) revealed on Friday that its partner in China, Rhei Pharmaceuticals, has received regulatory and marketing approval for MuGard from the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), to treat oral mucositis in cancer patients.

Manufacturing of MuGard, a novel, ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse and coating for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of many anticancer treatments, will commence shortly in the USA to meet the demand created by Jian An, Rhei's sales and marketing partner in China.

Last year, Access and Rhei signed a $30 million supply agreement for MuGard to ensure manufacturing capacity of up to a minimum of $30 million of product in the licensed territories. In addition, Access also approved a sub-license agreement between Rhei and Jian An Pharmaceuticals in Shenzhen, China, to leverage Jian An's extensive sales, marketing and regulatory infrastructure for the launch of MuGard in China and Taiwan. Jian An has 1,400 sales representatives covering all majors centers in China through 169 sales offices.