On December 1, 2022 Knight Therapeutics Inc., (TSX: GUD) ("Knight") a pan-American (ex-USA) specialty pharmaceutical company, reported that it has assumed full commercial activities and is relaunching oral AKYNZEO (netupitant/palonosetron capsules) in Canada (Press release, Knight Therapeutics, DEC 1, 2022, View Source;in-Canada-12-1-2022 [SID1234624720]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
Knight and Helsinn Healthcare SA ("Helsinn") entered into an exclusive license, distribution and supply agreement for oral/IV AKYNZEO in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and ALOXI oral/IV (palonosetron) in Canada (the "Products") in May 2022.
AKYNZEO (netupitant/palonosetron capsules) for oral administration is approved and marketed in Canada for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy and the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer therapy that is uncontrolled by a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist alone in adults. According to IQVIA, sales of AKYNZEO in Canada and Brazil were approximately $7 million in 2021.
"We are excited to take over Canadian commercialization of AKYNZEO, an innovative once-per-cycle fixed dose, dual combination antiemetic that offers a leading and guideline-recommended prophylactic treatment for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting," said Samira Sakhia, President and CEO of Knight. "AKYNZEO builds upon Knight’s growing Canadian oncology portfolio, increasing our presence in this important therapeutic area."
"Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting remain some of the most feared potential side effects of chemotherapy. While remarkable advances have been made in new chemotherapeutics, benefitting the lives of our patients, it is incumbent upon oncologists to try to make their journeys as safe and comfortable as possible. AKYNZEO, a combination of the pharmacologically and clinically distinct 5-HT3 receptor antagonist palonosetron and the selective NK1 receptor antagonist netupitant, has simplified antiemetic prophylaxis, providing an effective therapy with the lowest pill burden, and has been greatly appreciated by our cancer patients," said Dr. Sandeep Sehdev, medical oncologist at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre & Scientific Advisor for the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.
About AKYNZEO
AKYNZEO is the first and only 5-HT3 and NK1 receptor antagonist fixed combination approved for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced acute and delayed nausea and vomiting. A single dose of AKYNZEO given with dexamethasone prior to chemotherapy has been shown to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting for up to 5 days. AKYNZEO oral is approved and marketed in Canada for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy and the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer therapy that is uncontrolled by a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist alone in adults. AKYNZEO oral is also approved and marketed in Argentina and Brazil for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cisplatin-based cancer chemotherapy and prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy in adults.