AEterna Zentaris regains exclusive prostate hyperplasia rights for drug cetrorelix

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Jan. 30 - AEterna Zentaris Inc. said it reached an agreement with partner Solvay Pharmaceuticals for its lead product candidate cetrorelix. AEterna Zentaris will pursue late-stage clinical development of the drug for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia and regain exclusive worldwide rights, excluding Japan, for that indication.

Given its extensive presence and expertise in women's health, Solvay will continue its current clinical program with cetrorelix in endometriosis. No financial compensation is payable to Solvay under the agreement.

"Regaining the benign prostate hyperplasia rights for cetrorelix is in line with our strategy to move our promising product candidates through our pipeline to become a late-stage biopharmaceutical company," president and chief executive officer Gilles Gagnon said in a company news release.

"To that effect, we are presently in the process of designing a protocol to conduct a late-stage study with cetrorelix in benign prostate hyperplasia in the United States, upon discussions with the Food and Drug Administration.'

Benign prostate hyperplasia is the most common benign tumor in men and affects more than 50% of men aged 60 years and over, the company said. In 2004, the benign prostate hyperplasia treatment market was $2.6 billion.

Cetrorelix, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist, has been examined as a treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia, endometriosis, and uterine myoma. Aeterna Zentaris said it has shown to adequately suppress the formation of the male sex hormone testosterone, which plays a principal role in cell growth of the prostate.

Cetrorelix is also marketed under the brand name Cetrotide as a therapy for use as part of in vitro fertilization programs in Europe and the United States.

AEterna Zentaris is a growing global biopharmaceutical company based in Quebec City, Quebec, that discovers, develops and markets therapies for cancer and endocrine disorders.

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