Signing of Exclusive Agreement with Theravance

RNS Number : 2028I

Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc

01 July 2013

 



Hikma licenses VIBATIV® from Theravance

London, 1 July 2013 - Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC ("Hikma") (LSE: HIK) (NASDAQ Dubai: HIK) today announces the signing of an exclusive commercialisation agreement with Theravance, Inc. ("Theravance") (NASDAQ: THRX) for VIBATIV® (telavancin) in the Middle East and North Africa ("MENA") region.  VIBATIV® is a bactericidal, once-daily lipoglycopeptideinjectable antibiotic for Gram-positive bacterial infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Under the terms of the agreement, Hikma will have the exclusive rights to register, market and distribute VIBATIV® in 16 countries across MENA.  The agreement will leverage Hikma's strong local presence and regulatory expertise in MENA, with over 1,600 sales and marketing reps across the region.

MRSA is currently the most dangerous skin and soft tissue infection ("SSTI") pathogen, causing serious infections in both hospitalised patients and patients in the community.[1]  MRSA rates are increasing rapidly in many regions and there is a dynamic spread of strains across the globe.[2] 

Said Darwazah, Hikma's CEO said, "We are pleased to be partnering with Theravance to bring VIBATIV® to patients in the MENA region.  VIBATIV® is an excellent product that will enhance our broad portfolio of anti-infective products and offers a good market opportunity.  Strengthening our product portfolio through partnerships such as this continues to be a key component of our MENA growth strategy."

--- ENDS ---

Enquiries

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC

Susan Ringdal, Investor Relations Director                                                           [phone]/ 07776 477050

Lucinda Henderson, Investor Relations Manager                                               [phone]/ 07818 060211

FTI Consulting                                                                                                                    [phone]

Ben Atwell /Julia Phillips/Matthew Cole           

About Hikma

Hikma Pharmaceuticals is a fast growing multinational group focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of both branded and non branded generic and in-licensed products.  Hikma's operations are conducted through three businesses: "Branded", "Injectables" and "Generics" based principally in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where it is a market leader, the United States and Europe.  In 2012, Hikma achieved revenue of US$1,108.7 million and profit attributable to shareholders of US$100.3 million.  

About VIBATIV®

VIBATIV® is a bactericidal, once-daily, injectable lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with a dual mechanism of action whereby VIBATIV® both inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis and disrupts bacterial cell membrane function.  VIBATIV®, discovered and developed by Theravance, is approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections ("cSSSI") caused by susceptible isolates of Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains.  In June 2013 VIBATIV® was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus when alternative treatments are not suitable.

About Theravance

Theravance is a biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of internally discovered product candidates and strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical companies.  Theravance is focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of small molecule medicines across a number of therapeutic areas including respiratory disease, bacterial infections and central nervous system (CNS)/pain.  Theravance's key programmes include: RELVAR™ ELLIPTA™ or BREO™ ELLIPTA™ (FF/VI), ANORO™ ELLIPTA™ (UMEC/VI) and MABA (Bifunctional Muscarinic Antagonist-Beta₂ Agonist), each partnered with GlaxoSmithKline plc, and its oral Peripheral Mu Opioid Receptor Antagonist program.  By leveraging its proprietary insight of multivalency to drug discovery, Theravance is pursuing a best-in-class strategy designed to discover superior medicines in areas of significant unmet medical need.  For more information, please visit Theravance's web site at www.theravance.com.

THERAVANCE®, the Theravance logo, and MEDICINES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE® are registered trademarks of Theravance, Inc.

VIBATIV® is a registered trademark of Theravance, Inc.

RELVAR™, BREO™, ANORO™ and ELLIPTA™ are trademarks of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies. The use of the brand names ANORO™ and RELVAR™ has not yet been approved by any regulatory authority.

---

[1] Datamonitor, Skin and skin structure infections, 5 July 2011

[2] The 9^th Arab Conference for Antimicrobial Agents Program and Abstract Book, November 2012

 

END

 

 

STRBLGDLSGDBGXI