Velcade is a leading cancer therapeutic used to treat patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ortho Biotech will join Millennium in the first quarter of 2007 to promote Velcade to US physicians. Millennium will pay a percentage of the Velcade related costs for the Ortho Biotech sales force. Ortho Biotech will be entitled to receive a commission on the sales that exceed pre-specified targets. Millennium will continue to be responsible for commercialization, manufacturing and distribution of Velcade in the US.
The current agreement between Millennium and Ortho Biotech for the promotion of Velcade outside the US remains unchanged.
“With this expanded educational effort behind Velcade, we believe clinicians will be reached more frequently and more patients will have access to this important drug,” said Christophe Bianchi, executive vice president of commercial operations, Millennium.
Millennium was recently granted priority review by the FDA for its supplementary new drug application covering Velcade for relapsed mantle cell lymphoma. Phase III trials are ongoing in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and relapsed follicular and marginal zone lymphoma patients.