OREANDA-NEWS. October 3, 2011. Nycomed to take responsibility for sales, marketing and distribution of Kestine® (ebastine) in China, where it is already approved and reimbursed

Kestine® will also be launched in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, strengthening Nycomed’s and Almirall’s position in Asia Pacific through licensing of innovative brands

With this agreement, Almirall extends the global reach of the product, present now in more than 30 countries worldwide

Nycomed and Almirall today announced that they have signed a licensing and supply agreement for Almirall’s R&D antihistamine ebastina, under the trademark Kestine®, indicated for allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria, in China and other key emerging markets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nycomed will have exclusive commercialisation rights for the existing Kestine® product in China. Additionally, Kestine® will be launched in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, with Nycomed becoming marketing authorisation holder in these territories. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Kestine® (ebastine) is a product developed by Almirall’s R&D and which to date has been marketed in more than 30 countries worldwide through the company’s own affiliates and licensees. Its efficacy and safety are backed by thorough, extensive research: over 100 clinical studies have been conducted on over 15,700 patients.

Luciano Conde, Almirall’s Chief Operating Officer, commented: “We are very pleased to extend our collaboration with Nycomed to the Asia Pacific region. This agreement represents a step further in extending the global reach of ebastine to new patients and maximizing its value potential.”

Guido Oelkers, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations, said: “We are very pleased to have signed this license agreement to further expand our Asia Pacific product portfolio. Almirall’s Kestine is a high quality antihistamine which brings existing sales and potential for growth in China and further expansion in other key regional markets. Emerging markets continue to be our focus area for future growth.”

Nycomed has one of the highest proportions of sales from emerging markets among major pharmaceutical companies. The company recently opened offices in China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, rapidly increasing its capabilities in the region through the repatriation of its own core brands and the licensing of innovative products from other companies.