March 30, 2010

Daxas, once-a-day orally administered COPD therapy

HANDOK Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. announced it has signed a deal to collaborate on domestic approval of Nycomed’s Daxas (roflumilast), an orally administered treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Once-a-day tablet Daxas is a first-in-class orally administered phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzyme inhibitor targeting cells and mediators in the body believed to be important in the COPD.

Under the deal, HANDOK Pharmaceuticals will cooperate with Nycomed to apply for regulatory approval and promote the drug in Korea. HANDOK Pharmaceuticals is currently marketing Nycomed’s Alvesco used in the maintenance treatment of asthma while discussing prices on Omnaris nasal allergy spray.

“It is very exciting to work on the domestic approval of Daxas based on our long-term partnership with Nycomed,” said Young-jin Kim, chairman and CEO of HANDOK Pharmaceuticals. “HANDOK Pharmaceuticals will continue efforts to introduce a wide range of innovative respiratory products in Korea.”

“We are very glad to have strengthened partnership with HANDOK Pharmaceuticals through the cooperation deal and we hope Daxas will help treat many patients with difficult to control COPD,” said Peter Hwang, president of Nycomed Korea.