Abraxis BioScience, Inc. has entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca UK Ltd., under which Abraxis would re-acquire the exclusive rights to market Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) in the U.S. The agreement is subject to approval by the board of directors of Abraxis.
   
“We believe the time has come to further build our commercialization platform for Abraxane in the U.S.,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Abraxis BioScience. “We have gained much in our collaboration with AstraZeneca and they have done a commendable job in building market share. At the same time as building our sales organization, we will be advancing the development of our pipeline of new nab™ product candidates, and will expand our program of studies to support new indications for Abraxane,” continued Dr. Soon-Shiong.
   
Abraxis has developed a clinical program in an effort to gain new indications for Abraxane as well as other product candidates using the nab technology platform. This program includes eight Phase III trials, for which five protocols have been reviewed by the FDA for study design, 65 investigator-initiated Phase II trials and 16 Phase I studies. Late stage trials for abraxane include: 1st line lung cancer, 1st line melanoma, 1st and 2nd line pancreatic cancer, 1st line ovarian cancer, and 1st line gastric.