The collaboration agreement between the two parties will terminate effective March 1, 2009; until that time, Bayer Schering Pharma will continue to provide continued supply of Vasovist in the 19 countries where it is currently marketed.
According to Bayer Schering Pharma, the company is committed to ensuring that patients and physicians in the countries where Vasovist is currently marketed have continued access to Vasovist during this transition period.
Vasovist is an injectable intravascular contrast agent designed to provide improved imaging of the vascular system through magnetic resonance angiography imaging (MRA).
Elkan Gamzu, interim CEO of Epix, said: “We are pleased to regain complete worldwide commercial rights for Vasovist which has a PDUFA date of December 31, 2008. Pending FDA approval, Vasovist is positioned to become the first MRA contrast agent approved in the US and it could be launched in 2009.
“Our goal remains to maximize the commercial value of Vasovist and we are committed to executing our monetization strategy which includes finding a marketing and commercialization partner for Vasovist.”