Bayer returns most rights to Recothrom to ZymoGenetics

German drugs major Bayer has returned most of the rights it acquired in 2007 to US firm ZymoGenetics' Recothrom (thrombin alfa, topical, recombinant). Effective January 1, 2010, ZymoGenetics regains full promotion rights in the USA and all ex-US rights except in Canada, where Bayer will market and sell the product. The drug is used to control bleeding during surgeries.

The move follows the decision of Bayer Schering Pharma to withdraw its application for a centralized marketing authorization for Recothrom, which was submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) in August 2008 (The Pharma Letter December16). The view of the EMEA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) was that the data provided were not sufficient for approval because Bayer's submission did not meet the CHMP's fibrin sealant guideline, thus further studies would be needed.

'The amended agreements with Bayer should benefit ZymoGenetics in a number of ways,' said Douglas Williams, chief executive of ZymoGenetics. 'The US marketing and sales operation should achieve greater efficiency with one sales organization. We plan to increase the size of our field force to compensate for Bayer's exit. However, despite this increase, we expect the change to lower our selling costs and improve our bottom line, while enabling us to continue to gain market share,' he added.