DARA BioSciences Signs Exclusive Agreement With Uman Pharma


DARA BioSciences, Inc. recently announced it entered into an exclusive US agreement with Uman Pharma Inc. for commercial rights to gemcitabine, DARA’s second newly licensed anticancer agent. In 2010, gemcitabine generated branded (GEMZAR-Eli Lilly) sales of $780 million, according to IMS data. It went off patent in 2011 in the US, and a year earlier in Europe. The drug is widely prescribed as first-line therapy for ovarian, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers.

“The exclusive agreement with Uman Pharma for rights to commercialize this chemotherapeutic drug in the US leverages DARA’s existing cancer drug development program, provides DARA with an additional commercial opportunity, and further establishes a platform for adding other cancer and cancer-support products through ongoing licensing efforts We believe there is considerable upside potential in the generic, sterile injectable cytotoxic therapies market,” said David J. Drutz, MD, DARA’s President and CEO.

Last month, DARA acquired exclusive US rights to market Soltamox (licensed from Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd.), the only oral liquid formulation of tamoxifen for breast cancer patients who have difficulty swallowing tablet formulations or simply prefer a liquid form of the widely prescribed hormone blocking therapy. DARA is targeting strategic oncology therapies and supportive care products as part of its strategic direction in the cancer market.

By partnering with Uman, a fully integrated pharmaceutical company, DARA has aligned itself with a company that has the expertise and capability to provide cGMP-produced products for worldwide markets. DARA and Uman are working to identify future partnership opportunities for additional sterile injectable products in the oncology market. Uman plans to file an ANDA for gemcitabine with the US FDA later this year.

Uman Pharma is a global pharmaceutical company based in Candiac, on the south shore of Montreal, Canada. Its strengths lie in the development and manufacturing of cytotoxic and high-potent sterile injectables for the oncology market.

DARA is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of oncology treatment and supportive care products. DARA sharpened its focus in oncology through its January 2012 acquisition of Oncogenerix, Inc., which holds the exclusive US marketing rights to Soltamox, a novel oral liquid formulation of tamoxifen, a product used widely in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.