Apricus Biosciences Inc. (APRI) and Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH jointly announced they have entered into an exclusive license agreement to market Vitaros, a treatment for erectile dysfunction, in the UK. Takeda will pay NexMed U.S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Apricus Biosciences, an undisclosed upfront payment, and milestone payments of up to 35 million euros.
Vitaros is a topically delivered formulation of alprostadil, a vasodilator, supplied in a single dose dispenser, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The marketing authorization application for Vitaros was accepted by the European Medicines Agency for review in June 2011 and the license is anticipated in 2013. Vitaros has received marketing authorization in Canada and is being marketed by Abbott Laboratories Ltd. In the USA, commercial rights to Vitaros have been licensed to Warner Chilcott. Agreements have also been signed with Sandoz-Novartis in Germany, Bracco in Italy, Elis Pharmaceuticals in certain Middle East, and Gulf countries, and Neopharm in Israel.
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