Astellas in licensing deal with Tolmar for Eligard in additional markets

Japanese drug major Astellas (TYO: 4503) says its European subsidiary has acquired a license for the commercialization of Colorado, USA-based Tolmar’s advanced prostate cancer drug Eligard (leuprolide acetate) in a selection of Asian, Middle Eastern, North African and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Eligard is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist which Astellas Pharma Europe in-licensed from Tolmar and the European unit has registered and launched the drug successfully in the vast majority of European countries. Under the terms of the new agreement, the commercialization of Eligard will be expanded to the Middle East, North Africa, CIS, Central Asia and Asian markets such as China, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Astellas says it puts a high strategic focus on the therapeutic area of urology, by commercializing a treatment for overactive bladder, Vesicare (solifenacin), and a treatment for functional symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, Omnic (tamsulosin), Omnic Ocas (sold under the names Harnal in Japan) This new agreement could reinforce the presence of the therapeutic area, as well as a bridgehead for the entry into the therapeutic area of oncology, Astellas' third prioritized area alongside urology and transplant in emerging markets including Asia, the company said.