Diatos Announces Acquisition of Specialty Cancer Product DaunoXome from Gilead Sciences
Diatos SA announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. on the worldwide development and commercialization rights to DaunoXome. DaunoXome is a marketed liposomal formulation of daunorubicin, which has been approved for AIDS/HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma and is sold by Gilead in more than 20 countries. DaunoXome has also been evaluated in clinical studies for potential efficacy and safety in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Daunorubicin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent used principally in hematological malignancies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Diatos was granted exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights to DaunoXome in Kaposi's sarcoma as well as all other potential indications. In exchange, Gilead will receive upfront and milestone payments of up to $4.7 million, based on regulatory approval of new indications, and royalties on net sales.
On the basis of data derived from DaunoXome's commercial use and from various clinical studies in acute leukemic diseases, Diatos intends to seek approval from European regulatory authorities for the use of DaunoXome in acute leukemia.
DaunoXome is a liposomal formulation of daunorubicin, a widely used oncology chemotherapeutic agent. Daunorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent of the anthracycline class used to treat a large number of hematological cancers, among which acute leukemia. However, systemic administration of daunorubicin may lead to severe cardiotoxic and hematotoxic unwanted side effects, which drastically limit administered doses.
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