Labopharm

Canada's Labopharm's once-daily tramadol painkiller has been approved for marketing by drug regulators in South Korea and Australia, which brings the number of countries in which it has been cleared to 27. Labopharm completed licensing and distribution agreements with South Korea's WhanIn Pharmaceutical last year, and with iNova Pharmaceuticals Australia earlier this year. The firm has also licensed the product for Turkish marketing and distribution with Dr F Frik Ilac San Ve Tic AS. Under the terms of the agreement, Dr F Frik will have the exclusive right to market and sell the painkiller. Labopharm will supply the finished packaged product and says it will receive revenue and milestones from sale at rates "commensurate" with those of previous licensing deals.