Pharmaceutical Business review

Vical licenses melanoma drug to Eczacibasi Ilac Pazarlama

Eczacibasi Ilac Pazarlama (EIP) has agreed to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the territory and to pay Vical upfront and milestone payments plus a specified transfer price in exchange for the rights to an exclusive license for the territory.

Previously, Allovectin-7, a plasmid/lipid complex containing the DNA sequences encoding HLA-B7 and beta-2 microglobulin, has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of invasive and metastatic melanoma from the FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development.

Vijay Samant, Vical’s president and CEO, said: “As we advance toward completion of enrollment in our Phase III trial of Allovectin-7 in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma, we are also looking ahead to commercialization opportunities in key global markets.

“As an established pharmaceutical company in Turkey with a significant cancer franchise, EIP has the expertise to guide Allovectin-7 through the Turkish approval process and the strength to launch and sell Allovectin-7 successfully in the Turkish market. We continue to explore licensing and distribution agreements in additional international markets.”