R-Pharm and Il-Yang Pharmaceutical Reach Agreement in Russia for Activities Related to the Development and Marketing of Supect

R-Pharm corporate group and Il-Yang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a Korean company, with assistance of Taishi corporate group have reached a frame agreement related to their activity in Russia.

According to the terms of the agreement Il-Yang Pharmaceutical grants exclusive rights to R-Pharm to carry out activities connected with development and promotion of Supect (Ratotinib) medicine in the Russian market. The medicine was discovered and developed by IL Yang Pharmaceutical.

Supect is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of a new generation, which selectively blocks oncogenic Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase responsible for progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Supect medicine was developed as the second and third line of therapy for CML patients after ineffective treatment with other medicines of the same class. The medication has proved to be effective in treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia both with and without point mutation in Bcr-Abl gene. Besides Supect has enhanced safety profile and low rate of development of some class-specific complications. Medical application of the medicine has been approved by Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Clinical trials of phase III were successfully accomplished in a series of countries.

Every year another two thousand patients are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia while the total amount of people suffering from CML in Russian Federation is over 6000. About 20-25% of patients first diagnosed with CML can show intrinsic drug resistance, another 40% can develop acquired resistance or tyrosine kinase inhibitor intolerance within five years.

R-Pharm is planning to localize manufacturing of Supect, to lead clinical trials and receive approval for medical application of the drug and its promotion on the territory of Russian Federation. It is expected that Supect will become a more effective and safe alternative to existing Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors for a considerable number of patients suffering from CML.