The drug will now be promoted solely by Salix Pharmaceuticals, whilst Altana concentrates its efforts in the field of respiratory therapeutics.
Mr George Cole, president, Altana Pharma US commented. “We are confident that Xifaxan should serve as a major contributor to Salix’s ongoing success. Altana has made the strategic decision to realign its efforts in the respiratory therapeutic area. Therefore, in order to focus our efforts, Altana and Salix have agreed to end their co-promotion activities.”
Salix now has a number of programs underway to expand Xifaxan’s current indication. In July 2005 the company initiated a phase III study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xifaxan for the prevention of travelers’ diarrhea. The company intends to continue the travelers’ diarrhea prevention program by initiating a second study later this year in Asia.
Work also continues in a number of other areas, and the company intends to initiate trials in C. difficile-associated diarrhea, hepatic encephalopathy and irritable bowel syndrome by the end of 2005.
Additionally, based on work recently published by Dr Ira Shafran and the results of other proof-of-concept studies, Salix intends to initiate a study of Xifaxan in the treatment of Crohn’s disease during the first half of 2006.