Orexo and Hospira sign Asia-Pacific Rapinyl deal

Uppsala, Sweden-headquartered Orexo AB and US hospital products firm Hospira have entered into a distribution agreement that grants the latter exclusive rights to market the former's breakthrough cancer pain medication Rapinyl (fentanyl). Financial terms of the accord were not disclosed.

Orexa explained that Rapinyl is based on its patented sublingual tablet technology, which allows drugs placed under the tongue to rapidly dissolve, thereby improving its onset of action and absorption through the mucous membrane. The firm added that the product provides patients receiving chemotherapy with predictable and reproducible pain relief, as well as a simplified treatment protocol.

The deal, which covers the product's sale in Australia, New Zealand and other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, is the fifth such agreement that Orexa has established. At present, US rights for the drug are held by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Kyowa Hakko sells the product in Japan, while in Europe, UK-based drugmaker ProStrakan is responsible for distribution.