BEIJING
CANbridge Life Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing Western drug candidates in China and North Asia, has entered into an exclusive partnership with EUSA Pharma, a Jazz Pharmaceuticals company (Nasdaq:JAZZ), to commercialize Caphosol® in China. Under the terms of the agreement, CANbridge obtains exclusive rights to commercialize Caphosol in China, where over 3.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed each year, and there is little in the way of a standard adjunct therapy to treat oral mucositis.
“Caphosol represents the second oncology product we will commercialize in China and will meet a severely underserved medical need in China” said CANbridge founder and CEO, James Xue. Mr. Xue was also the former General Manager of Genzyme China. “Our agreement with EUSA Pharma represents our strategy of partnering with Western companies to commercialize treatments that will profoundly improve quality-of-life for patients in China and North Asia. With the addition of Caphosol® and other follow-on products, CANbridge is expanding its footprint in oncology and will evolve into a commercial- stage company in the foreseeable future.”
Caphosol is a prescription medical device, approved in the United States and European Union, designed to moisten, lubricate and clean the oral cavity including the mucosa of the mouth, tongue and oropharynx. In the United States, Caphosol is indicated for dryness of the mouth or throat and as an adjunct to standard oral care in treating the mucositis that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy. Within the European Union, Caphosol is indicated for the above as well as an adjunct to standard oral care in the prevention of the mucositis, that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy.
An estimated 40% of chemotherapy patients, 70% of bone marrow transplant patients and 97% of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation therapy develop oral mucositis. This can lead to ulceration and pain, as well as difficulty swallowing, changes in the voice and life-threatening sepsis. Oral mucositis can affect many functions of the mouth, including drinking, eating and speaking and may necessitate total parenteral nutrition (TPN), morphine for pain relief and may delay discharge. Oral mucositis may also interrupt treatment, increase costs and threaten life.
CANbridge has been actively developing partnerships with Western companies of which the products or drug candidates could make a profound impact to the quality of life of Chinese patients. To those with limited resource to develop and commercialize these products in China on their own, CANbridge’s expertise and presence in China offers an attractive alternative.
About Caphosol®
Caphosol®, is a patented, oral electrolyte solution designed to moisten, lubricate and clean the oral cavity including the mucosa of the mouth, tongue and oropharynx. In the United States, Caphosol® is indicated for dryness of the mouth or throat (hyposalivation, xerostomia), regardless of the cause and regardless of whether the conditions are temporary or permanent. Caphosol® is also indicated as an adjunct to standard oral care in treating the mucositis that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy.
In the European Union, Caphosol® is a Class I CE marked medical device indicated for dryness of the mouth and oropharynx (hyposalivation, xerostomia), regardless of the cause and regardless of whether the condition is temporary or permanent. Caphosol® is also indicated as an adjunct to standard oral care in the prevention and treatment of the mucositis that may be caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy.
Relief of dryness of the oral mucosa in these conditions is associated with amelioration of pain.
About CANbridge Life Sciences
CANbridge Life Sciences, Ltd. is a bio-pharmaceutical company accelerating development and commercialization of specialty healthcare products for serious and critical medical conditions in China and North Asia (Korea and Taiwan). CANbridge develops partnerships with Western bio-pharmaceutical companies with clinical-stage pharmaceutical, medical device or diagnostic products that are either unavailable in China/North Asia or address medical needs that are underserved in the region. CANbridge also licenses or obtains exclusive rights to commercialize drug and device products that are approved in their home markets for commercialization in China and North Asia. CANbridge has an exclusive licensing agreement with U.S.-based Azaya Therapeutics, Inc., to develop and commercialize ATI-1123 in China, for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors. CANbridge also has an agreement with EUSA Pharma, a Jazz Pharmaceuticals company, to commercialize Caphosol® in China for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis caused by cancer treatments.
Led and backed by a highly-seasoned executive team, with extensive Chinese drug development experience, CANbridge has the capability to select, acquire, develop and commercialize future therapeutics and diagnostics targeting the unmet medical needs of Chinese and East Asian patients with serious or critical conditions.
CANbridge is privately-held and headquartered in Beijing, China. For more on CANbridge Life Sciences, please go to www.canbridgepharma.com
EUSA Pharma
EUSA Pharma, a Jazz Pharmaceuticals company, focuses on in-licensing, developing and marketing late-stage oncology, oncology supportive care and critical care products. EUSA Pharma currently has seven products on the International market. For more information go to www.EUSApharma.com.
CONTACT
Company
CANbridge Life Sciences
James Xue,
+8610-8414-8018
781-995-0074
CEO
or
Media:
Planet
Communications
Deanne Eagle, 917-837-5866
