Business
Aeterna Zentaris Completes Successful Transfer of Cetrotide® Manufacturing Rights to Merck KGaA
Company to Receive $3.3 Million One-Time Payment All amounts are in US dollars (u...
About this update from Cosciens Biopharma Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\nCompany to Receive $3.3 Million One-Time Payment \n\n\nAll amounts are in US dollars (unless otherwise mentioned)\n\n\nQUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 1, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ:\n AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the \"Company\") today announced the successful\n completion of its previously announced agreements with various partners\n and licensees with respect to the manufacturing rights and obligations\n for its Cetrotide® product. The principal outcome of such agreements is the transfer of\n manufacturing rights and the grant of a manufacturing license for\n Cetrotide® to a subsidiary of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany (\"Merck Serono\"),\n in all jurisdictions. Under the terms of these agreements, Aeterna\n Zentaris will receive a one-time payment of €2.5 million, or\n approximately $3.3 million. Cetrotide® (cetrorelix acetate for injection) is used to regulate hormone\n responses in women undergoing infertility treatment. Merck Serono\n currently markets Cetrotide® worldwide.\n\n\nThe Company had previously monetized the royalty stream related to\n Cetrotide® in November 2008 in a transaction with HealthCare Royalty Partners L.P.\n (formerly Cowen Healthcare Royalty Partners L.P.). With the transfer of\n manufacturing rights to Merck Serono now completed, Aeterna Zentaris\n remains focused on the development programs with zoptarelin doxorubicin\n (AEZS-108) including its Phase 3 ZoptEC (Zoptarelin doxorubicin in Endometrial Cancer) trial and the Phase 2 trials in breast, prostate and bladder\n cancer, its upcoming NDA filing for macimorelin acetate (AEZS-130) as\n an oral diagnostic for growth hormone deficiency in adults, as well as\n on the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial with AEZS-120, a novel\n oral prostate cancer vaccine.\n\n\nThe use of the name \"Merck\" and \"Merck Serono\" in this press release\n refers to Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. In North America, Merck\n KGaA operates under the umbrella brand EMD.\n\n\nAbout Aeterna Zentaris Inc. \n\n\nAeterna Zentaris is a specialty biopharmaceutical company engaged in\n developing novel treatments in oncology and endocrinology. The\n Company's pipeline encompasses compounds from drug discovery to\n regulatory approval. For more information, visit www.aezsinc.com.\n\n\nForward-Looking Statements \n\n\nThis press rel...