Astellas to transfer Intal rights to Sanofi-aventis

Astellas has announced that it is transferring distribution, marketing and manufacturing rights for the drug Intal to Sanofi-aventis.

The pharmaceutical company is returning the rights to the anti-allergy treatment, which was developed by Sanofi-aventis subsidiary Fisons, following the expiration of a contract between the two firms.

Intal is described as the world's first chemical mediator release inhibitor and is available in seven different formulations, providing relief against conditions such as allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, vernal conjunctivitis and allergy-related atopic dermatitis.

The new arrangement will affect the complete range of Intal products, which include capsules, aerosols, nasal spray and fine granule specifications.

Manufacturing and marketing approval rights for the drug have already been transferred as of October 1st 2010, while distribution rights will be returned on January 1st 2011.

In August 2010, Astellas agreed a new partnership with UMN Pharma to co-develop two new cell culture-based vaccines for various forms of influenza.