Santhera launches Raxone in its first EU market

Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) on Thursday launched Raxone, its drug to treat genetic disease causing blindness in Germany, marking the drug's first launch in Europe.

Raxone is for the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a rare inherited mitochondrial disease that usually leads rapidly to profound and permanent blindness.

Giovanni Stropoli, Santhera's chief commercial officer for Europe, said: "The introduction of Raxone in Germany is a major step forward for LHON patients who now have an effective treatment option. We are particularly proud as Raxone is also the first approved treatment for any mitochondrial disease, a therapeutic area which is in the focus of our Company. Germany is our first and largest EU market but product availability is anticipated in additional countries in the immediate future."