Pfizer has signed an agreement with Switzerland-based Basilea Pharmaceutica for the exclusive development and commercialisation rights to Cresemba (isavuconazole) in China and the Asia Pacific region.
Developed to treat adults with invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis, Cresemba is an intravenous (IV), oral azole anti-fungal and active agent of prodrug isavuconazonium sulfate.
The firms previously signed an agreement in July, under which Pfizer obtained exclusive commercialisation rights for Cresemba in Europe, except Nordic countries.
Pfizer is currently marketing the drug in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, UK and Spain, and plans to launch in other countries over time.
The latest deal provides the firm with rights to develop, distribute and commercialise Cresemba in China and 16 Asia Pacific countries, except Japan.
“Pfizer is currently marketing the drug in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, UK and Spain, and plans to launch in other countries over time.”
Pfizer APAC, Greater China and Global Brands global president Suneet Varma said: “We believe our extensive geographic footprint in APAC and China, together with our expertise in successfully commercialising innovative medicines, will help enable us to continue to address the unmet medical needs of patients, especially in the area of anti-infectives.”
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cresemba in March 2015 for invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis treatment in patients aged 18 and above.
The drug received the European centralised marketing authorisation in October of the same year to treat adults with invasive aspergillosis and for mucormycosis patients who cannot use amphotericin B.
It has orphan drug designation in both countries, and is commercialised by Astellas Pharma in the US.
