Cancer
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer with innovative drug delivery system
MediGene's first drug on the market, Eligard®, is a hormone compound for the treatment of advanced, hormone-dependent prostate cancer. The active substance (leuprolide acetate) significantly reduces the level of the male sex hormone testosterone, thus suppressing tumor growth. The established substance is combined with a novel drug delivery system, i.e. the Atrigel® depot technology: the liquid drug is injected subcutaneously and forms a gel-like implant that slowly disintegrates. Depending on the dosage administered, the drug is steadily released over a period of one, three, or six months. Aside from the one-month and three-month products available, the six-month product was approved and launched in Europe in 2007.
The European market launch of Eligard® by MediGene's partner Astellas Pharma started in 2004. In 2006, MediGene's revenue from the sales of the drug is comprised of two elements: royalties on the sales of Eligard®, as well as milestone payments that MediGene receives from Astellas for the achievement of defined sales. MediGene, on the other hand, makes license fee payments for Eligard® to QLT USA, Inc. MediGene acquired the pan-European marketing rights to Eligard® from QLT and successfully guided the product through the German approval procedures.
Outlook
Eligard® will remain one of MediGene's lead products in the coming years. The six-month product is currently launched in other European countries.
Eligard® and Atrigel® are trademarks of QLT USA, Inc.
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