Helsinn Group and Pharmacosmos have entered an agreement for the exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to Monofer, an intravenous iron replacement therapy under development for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Helsinn has exclusive rights to commercialize Monofer and any other iron isomaltoside 1000 products developed by Pharmacosmos in the U.S.
 
Pharmacosmos is eligible for milestone payments of as much as $130 million for Monofer and will be eligible to receive further payments for the manufacture and supply of Monoferto Helsinn in the U.S.
 
Helsinn’s chief executive officer, Riccardo Braglia, said, “Helsinn is committed to improving the lives of patients by offering medicines which enable them to get the most out of every day, optimizing their quality of life and promoting their ability to remain on treatment regimens. Monofer provides a high dose iron replacement in a single administration, which may offer anemic patients a new, more convenient treatment option for rapidly restoring their iron stores and thereby, improve their symptom burden. We look forward to collaborating with Pharmacosmos and bringing Monofer to the U.S. market.”
 
Pharmacosmos’ chief executive officer, Lars Christensen, said, “This is a very important milestone for Pharmacosmos. The U.S. market is the biggest market in the world. We believe that Monofer will serve yet unmet clinical needs with a clear potential to improve outcomes and convenience for patients suffering from Iron Deficiency Anemia. Helsinn’s strong foothold in the hematology and oncology combined with Pharmacosmos’ expertise on iron deficiency anemia will provide an excellent platform for the introduction of Monofer in the U.S.”