The product will be manufactured by Alkermes and commercialized by Janssen-Cilag, an affiliate company of Cilag International.
Alkermes and Cilag have previously announced an exclusive agreement to commercialize Vivitrol for the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence in Russia and other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Alkermes will receive manufacturing revenues and a royalty based on product sales. Alkermes will retain exclusive development and marketing rights to Vivitrol in all markets outside the US, Russia and other countries in the CIS. In the US, Vivitrol is commercialized primarily by Cephalon.
Elliot Ehrich, chief medical officer of Alkermes, said: “Vivitrol is the first once-monthly injectable medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence to be approved in Russia.”