Under the agreement, Apotex will seek market approval in Canada for VEVYE, IHEEZO, and ZERVIATE in Canada, and will distribute VERKAZIA and OTC Cationorm PLUS in the country
Apotex gains licensing rights to Harrow's five eye products in Canada. (Credit: Eden Moon from Pixabay)
Eyecare pharmaceutical firm Harrow has entered into an exclusive out-licensing agreement with Canada-based Apotex for five branded ophthalmic pharmaceutical products.
Under the agreement, Apotex will seek market approval in Canada for VEVYE, IHEEZO, and ZERVIATE in Canada.
The pharmaceutical company will simultaneously market and distribute VERKAZIA and over the counter (OTC) Cationorm PLUS in the country.
Harrow chairman and CEO Mark Baum said: “We are pleased to enter the Canadian market through this partnership with Apotex, which has a proven track record of success serving Canadian eyecare professionals and their patients.
“This exclusive agreement fulfils our commitment to access and availability of these five important ophthalmic pharmaceutical products, and we look forward to working closely with our partners at Apotex over the coming years as they seek approval for VEVYE, IHEEZO and ZERVIATE in the Canadian market.”
VERKAZIA is a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant. It is intended to treat vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in children from four years of age through adolescence.
Cationorm PLUS is a preservative-free emulsion to treat dry eye symptoms and signs and symptoms of ocular allergy.
VEVYE is a water-free vehicle based on semifluorinated alkanes. It is designed to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. On the other hand, IHEEZO is a single-use, low-viscosity gel intended for ocular surface anaesthesia.
ZERVIATE (cetirizine ophthalmic solution) is a histamine-1 (H1) receptor antagonist to treat ocular itching related to allergic conjunctivitis.
Apotex president and CEO Allan Oberman said: “We are excited to partner with Harrow to provide access to an innovative branded line of ophthalmic products that complement our existing portfolio.
“This alliance expands Apotex’s product offering in Canada to include innovative patented pharmaceutical medicines, aligned with our ongoing strategic focus to further expand our innovative branded pharmaceutical therapeutic areas of focus in becoming a Canadian-based global health company.”
In July last year, Harrow signed an agreement to buy the US and Canadian rights to certain ophthalmic products of Santen Pharmaceutical.