Abraxis launches Abraxane in EU

The USA's Abraxis BioScience, has launched Abraxane Paclitaxel 5mg/ml powder for suspension for infusion in the European Union. The agent is an albumin-bound nanoparticle formulation of the approved cancer drug paclitaxel. In the EU, Abraxane is indicated for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in patients who have failed first-line treatment for metastatic disease and for whom standard, anthracycline-containing therapy is not indicated. Following the product's current launch in the UK, Abraxane will be introduced in Germany in the first quarter of 2009, followed by additional nations in Europe on a country by country basis. The UK Department of Health approved a price of L246 ($377) per 100mg vial of Abraxane. Sales force and commercial services for Abraxis in the EU will be provided by Innovex, a unit of USA-based drug industry solutions provider Quintiles Transnational. To date, Abraxane has been approved for marketing in 36 countries.