On 1 July 2016, Aeterna Zentaris signed an exclusive license agreement with affiliates of Orient EuroPharma Co., Ltd for its lead anti-cancer compound, Zoptrex, for the initial indication of endometrial cancer for Taiwan and nine countries in Southeast Asia.
On 31 July 2016, Aeterna Zentaris signed a second exclusive license agreement with Rafa Laboratories, Ltd for Israel and the Palestine Territories.
These follow on from the 2014 exclusive license agreement with Sinopharm A-Think Pharmaceuticals in line with the Company’s co- development agreement with Aeterna Zentaris, Ergomed will receive a portion of all revenues generated from the commercialization of the product.
Zoptrex, a novel synthetic peptide carrier linked to doxorubicin, is currently in a fully- enrolled Phase 3 clinical trial in endometrial cancer. As the rate of death in the trial is lower than expected, Aeterna Zentaris now expects to complete the Phase 3 clinical trial by the end of the year with results following early in 2017, and, if the results of the trial warrant doing so, to file a new drug application for Zoptrex in the first half of 2017.
Ergomed CEO Miroslav Reljanovic said: Dr. Miroslav Reljanovic said: “We are delighted that our partner, Aeterna Zentaris has now licensed Zoptrex in the important markets of China, Israel, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
“In line with our strategy at IPO, these deals mark an important milestone in our co-development partnership with Aeterna Zentaris and demonstrate the value of our hybrid business model.”