Mundipharma buys rights to sell Zevalin from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals

Under the licence and asset purchase agreement, Mundipharma will have rights associated to research, development, marketing, sales, and intellectual property rights and access to existing inventory of Zevalin in all countries except US, Canada, Europe, Russia/CIS, India and China.

The deal requires Mundipharma to make an up-front payment of $15m to Spectrum and $5m in profits on initial Zevalin supply.

Zevalin is indicated to treat patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy.

Zevalin includes two prescription medications. It is given with two treatments of rituximab and one treatment of Yttrium-90 Zevalin.

Mundipharma Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa president Raman Singh said: "Zevalin presents healthcare professionals with access to a treatment option which can markedly improve the quality of their patients’ lives as it has one of the best proven progression free survival results for these difficult to treat patients."

Mundipharma will also assume responsibility for Spectrum Pharmaceuticals’ operations in Japan.

Spectrum said the transaction supports its plans to develop drugs such as SPI-2012 and poziotinib that have the potential to compete in blockbuster markets.