Business
Microbix and Zydus Cadila reach agreement to market Urokinase, a critical care therapy in North America
TORONTO/AHMEDABAD, Jan. 6, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX), a biote...
About this update from Microbix Biosystems Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\n\nTORONTO/AHMEDABAD, Jan. 6, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc.\n (TSX: MBX), a biotechnology company commercializing novel technologies\n and Zydus Cadila, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in\n India, today reported that they have signed a Letter of Intent to\n market the Thrombolytic drug, Urokinase in the North American markets.\n The estimated market size for Urokinase use in the U.S. alone is\n expected to touch $400 million by 2020 between three indications: \n pulmonary embolism, catheter clearance and catheter prophylaxis.  The\n same active pharmaceutical ingredient can be used in new and even\n larger indications in oncology and ophthalmology.\n\n\nUrokinase, a successful thrombolytic drug, was first approved in the\n U.S. in 1978 for pulmonary embolism (blockage in the arteries supplying blood to the lungs) and coronary occlusion (blockage in the vessels which carry blood to the heart). It was used substantially off label for dissolving large peripheral\n thrombi (clotting in the arteries which supply blood to the limbs) in arms and legs, and until 1998 it was the standard of care for\n catheter clearance where it is used to re-establish flow in occluded\n biomedical catheters. Over 4 million patients have been treated\n successfully with Urokinase. Many physicians remain loyal to Urokinase\n due to the drug's superior and well-documented safety profile as well\n as cost and efficacy. The drug was withdrawn from the market for 3\n years from 1999 to 2002 for reasons unrelated to product performance. \n Urokinase was acquired by Microbix in 2008 which has since then stepped\n up efforts to re-introduce the drug in North America.\n\n\nWilliam J. Gastle, Chief Executive Officer, Microbix Biosystems said:\n \"Microbix has been the champion of Urokinase and we are committed to\n returning this life saving therapy to physicians and patients. We have\n been investing to rebuild this franchise including manufacturing\n infrastructure, raw materials, and technical expertise, in addition to\n acquiring the approved NDA's for both Canada and the US markets. With\n Zydus, we now have a strong commercial partner to help us realize our\n objective.\"\n\n\nThe Ontario-based, Microbix Biosystems Inc., specializes in the\n development of biological technologies and markets virology and\n...