Solasia's first drug trial initiated in Japan; China next

Tokyo, Japan-based Solasia Pharma KK, a developer of western oncology pharmaceuticals in-licensed for commercialization in Asian markets, has  initiated a Phase I study of SP-01 (long-acting transdermal granisetron  patch; brand name Sancuso in Japan) in domestic volunteers. This  represents the first study implemented by the firm.

Solasia also indicated that it has begun regulatory and clinical  development work with SP-01 in China, and has engaged Excel  PharmaStudies, China's largest contract research organization, to  assist an in-house team in preparing and carrying out clinical trials of  the compound there. In May last year, Solasia announced an exclusive  license from ProStrakan of the UK to develop Sancuso for the treatment  of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Japan and other Asian  countries.

Sancuso is the first and only commercialized long-acting granisetron  transdermal product. In Japan, granisetron injections and tablets enjoy  strong market acceptance and have an over 50% share in this class of  agents. Sancuso was recently launched in the USA by ProStrakan where it  was selected by Time Magazine/CNN as one of the top 10 medical  breakthroughs of 2008, noted the Japanese company.