Ergomed wins two licenses for cancer drug Zoptrex

Pharmaceutical service provider Ergomed’s development partner Aeterna Zentaris, won two licensing deals for its cancer drug Zoptrex gaining new territory in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

In July 2016 Aeterna Zentaris signed a license agreement with affiliates of Orient EuroPharma for its anti-cancer compound Zoptrex in Taiwan and nine Southeast Asia countries.

It also signed a second license agreement with Rafa Laboratories for the drug to be used in Israel and Palestine. Ergomed will receive a portion of all revenues generated from the agreements.

The agreements follows momentum from 2014 when it signed a deal with Sinopharm A-Think Pharmaceuticals for use of the drug.

Zoptrex is currently in a phase 3 clinical trial in endometrial cancer and as the rate of death in the trial is lower than expected, Aeterna Zentaris now expects to complete clinical trial by the end of the year with results in 2017.

If the results of the trial are fine the company will file a new drug application for Zoptrex in the first half of 2017.

Dr. Miroslav Reljanovic, Ergomed's chief executive, said: "We are delighted that our partner, Aeterna Zentaris has now licensed Zoptrex in the important markets of China, Israel, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

“In line with our strategy at the initial public offering, these deals mark an important milestone in our co-development partnership with Aeterna Zentaris and demonstrate the value of our hybrid business model."

Shares in Ergomed in were down 0.42% to 120p at 1000 BST.