Summit is co-developing Hextend for the Japanese market with Maruishi Pharmaceutical and both Maruishi and Summit have the right to co-market Hextend if regulatory approval is obtained. Summit expects phase III clinical studies to commence in 2008.
Hextend is a blood plasma volume expander for the treatment of hypovolemia. Hextend has been formulated to restore and maintain plasma volume longer than the plasma volume expanders currently marketed in Japan. Summit estimates that there are on average at least 1 million surgery cases per year in Japan that involve the use of plasma volume expanders.
Hextend is being distributed in the US and Canada by Hospira and in South Korea by CJ Corp.