Anesiva expands Zingo deal with Sigma-Tau

US drugmaker Anesiva has expanded its license and distribution agreement for the painkiller Zingo (lidocaine HCl) with Italy's Sigma-Tau SpA to include additional European countries. The powder intradermal injection is approved in the USA to provide topical local analgesia prior to peripheral IV insertions or blood draws in children three to 18 years of age.

Under the expanded agreement, Sigma-Tau now has exclusive rights to market and distribute Zingo in all major European markets, excluding the UK and Scandinavian countries. Terms of the expanded agreement include additional upfront payments to Anesiva and transfer price, as well as a milestone payment. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

"The expansion of this agreement reflects enthusiasm about the global potential for Zingo to provide quick-onset, needle-free analgesia prior to peripheral venous access procedures in children," said Samantha Miller, Anesiva's vice president, business development. "Since the initial agreement was signed in February 2008, Sigma-Tau has made significant progress in defining the regulatory pathway to support commercialization of Zingo in the licensed countries," she added.