Ipsen sells North American rights for Apokyn to Britannia Pharma

French drugmaker Ipsen (Euronext: IPN) today has sold its North American development and marketing rights for Apokyn (apomorphine) indicated in the USA for the acute, intermittent treatment of hypomobility “off” episodes associated with advanced Parkinson’s disease to UK-based Britannia Pharmaceuticals, now part of Germany’s STADA Arzneimittel.

Under the terms of the deal, Britannia Pharmaceuticals will pay more than one times the 2010 sales of the drug to Ipsen, which will no longer record Apokyn sales in its accounts from November 30, 2011 onwards. Last year, sales of Apokyn in the USA amounted to $7.9 million.

In turn, Britannia Pharmaceuticals will ensure continuity of supply and support of Apokyn to patients through USWorldMeds, a USA-based specialty company with a focus on neurology that will commercialize Apokyn in the USA as of December 1.