Quintiles lands CF drug commercialisation contract

Quintiles will help Australian drugmaker Pharmaxis launch its cystic fibrosis treatment Bronchitol in Europe under a contract announced yesterday.

The deal will see the US contract research organisation’s (CRO) commercial arm develop a market access strategy for Bronchitol, which is expected to be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) later this year.

A Quintiles spokeswoman told Outsourcing-pharma that: "Quintiles work on Bronchitol for Pharmaxis spans the strategic planning and tactical implementation of market access for the product.This includes the pricing and reimbursement work in all countries, as well as supporting the development of economic value proposition for Bronchitol.

She added that: "We will also facilitate field-based commercial teams in all the countries to implement the marketing strategy on a local basis."

"Our goal is to serve as an ally for our customers to help ensure their products reach their full market potential. This deal is another example of how we are helping customers to move beyond the traditional sales-force, so that they can overcome complexity and demonstrate value in the New Health Landscape."

European reach

In a press statement acting Pharmaxis CEO Gary Phillips said that Quintiles’ market reach and sales experience “in the region made them the ally of choice,” explaining that, if Bronchitol is cleared, commercialisation will begin in Germany and the UK in early 2011.

Similar launches are planned in France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Portugal over the next six years according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.