Purdue gains license for Aloxi in Canada

US drugmaker Purdue Pharma has signed a distribution and licence agreement granting its Canadian subsidiary exclusive rights to distribute, promote, market and sell Aloxi (palonosetron hydrochloride) in Canada, reported the drug’s maker, privately-held Swiss firm Helsinn Group.

Aloxi, an anti-emetic (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) authorized for sale by Health Canada in adults for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), is also approved in over 70 countries worldwide, including the USA, European countries and Japan.

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group vice chairman and chief executive, commented: “Aloxi has helped to provide relief from CINV to patients across the world and, through this agreement with Purdue Pharma (Canada) we hope to extend its benefits to a greater number of patients in Canada. We are also pleased to be able to broaden our relationship with Purdue/Mundipharma Network, a trusted partner that we work with in many countries across 5 continents and look forward to working with them in Canada”.