Under the terms of the agreement, CytoPharm and its subsidiary will conduct all clinical trials, and seek to obtain regulatory approvals in both China and Taiwan to launch Amarillo Biosciences’ low-dose oral interferon in influenza and hepatitis B (HBV) indications. CytoPharm expects trials to commence in 2007.
“With the fast growing economies and vastly improving healthcare systems in both China and Taiwan, patients’ demands for newer and better drugs have become much stronger,” said Dr Ellson Chen, chairman of CytoPharm.
“CytoPharm will conduct important clinical studies to demonstrate the efficacy of low-dose oral interferon against influenza and hepatitis B,” added Dr Claus Martin, special consultant to Amarillo Biosciences.
“The clinical data generated will provide invaluable assistance in our efforts to bring low-dose oral interferon into a number of countries with whom we have been holding discussions, including Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.”
Financial arrangements have not been disclosed, but, according to the agreement, CytoPharm will make payments to Amarillo Biosciences upon reaching certain milestones and will also pay royalties on low-dose oral interferon sales.