Sanofi-aventis U.S. announced today that it has acquired from biotechnology company Antisoma plc the U.S. commercial rights to Oforta (fludarabine phosphate film-coated tablets), an oral B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) drug. Oforta is currently approved in the United States for use as a second-line therapy to treat adults with B-cell CLL.
"We are extremely pleased to add Oforta to our existing oncology portfolio, and believe it represents an exciting opportunity for sanofi-aventis U.S.," said John Harrington, Vice President and Head of the Oncology Business Unit at sanofi-aventis U.S. "Sanofi-aventis is a company committed to identifying and exploring new treatment options for patients facing serious diseases, such as CLL. This agreement further supports our efforts to help patients and complements our strong heritage of providing therapies to treat cancer."
Antisoma currently licenses certain rights and purchases Oforta from Bayer Schering Pharma AG. As part of this transaction, sanofi-aventis U.S. will acquire these agreements.
Oforta is a nucleoside analogue designed to prevent cancer cells from dividing by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Oforta was granted accelerated review and later received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2008 to treat adult patients with B-cell CLL whose disease has not responded to, or has progressed during or after treatment with at least one standard alkylating-agent containing regimen. Oforta is an orally administered tablet formulation of fludarabine phosphate.