Mallinckrodt Medical to distribute Rapiscan in France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain

Rapidscan Pharma Solutions (RPS) EU has entered into an agreement with Mallinckrodt Medical BV for the exclusive right to promote and distribute Rapiscan (regadenoson) in France, Italy, Belgium and Spain. RPS’ US parent acquired rights to the product (excluding the USA, Canada and Mexico) from Gilead Sciences in 2010. Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.

Rapiscan is a selective coronary vasodilator for use as a pharmacological stress agent for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in adult patients unable to undergo adequate exercise stress in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) - the single most common cause of death and disability in Europe.1

Every year more than four million Europeans die from diseases of the heart and blood vessels, accounting for almost half of total mortality in Europe. Accurate diagnosis is vital in identifying patients who are appropriate for intensive medical intervention with more than 1.5 million Europeans undergoing MPI tests annually. The company says that Rapiscan is administered as a non-weight based bolus injection and is the first and only selective A2A adenosine receptor agonist to have a licence for use in this indication.