Santen licenses rights tafluprost in certain countries to Merck & Co

Japanese drugmaker Santen Pharmaceutical has licensed glaucoma drug tafluprost to US drug major Merck & Co. A preserved and  preservative-free formulation of the prostaglandin analog has received  marketing approval for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in  open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in several European and  Nordic countries, as well as Japan, and has been filed for approval in  additional European and Asia-Pacific markets. Under the terms of the  license deal, Merck will pay an undisclosed fee as well as milestones  and royalties for both preserved and preservative-free formulations of  tafluprost in exchange for exclusive commercial rights in western  Europe (excluding Germany), North America, South America and  Africa. Merck will provide promotion support to Santen in Germany and  Poland. If the agent is approved in the USA, the Japanese firm has an  option to co-promote it there.