This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Merck, Santen sign agreement to market glaucoma drug
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck & Co. has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Santen Pharmaceutical to market the drug tafluprost.
Tafluprost, a prostaglandin analogue candidate currently in development in the United States, has received marketing approval for reduction of IOP in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in several European and Nordic countries under the trade name Taflotan and in Japan under the name Tapros. Additional approvals in other markets are currently being reviewed, Merck and Santen announced in a statement.
According to the agreement, Merck will obtain exclusive commercial rights to tafluprost in Western Europe (except Germany), North and South America, and Africa. Santen will retain commercial rights for the product in Eastern and Northern Europe, as well as Asia Pacific. The two companies will co-promote the product in Germany and Poland, and Santen has an option to co-promote in the United States if the product gains U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.