Skye Pharma reports on partner’s new agreement with Merck KGaA affiliate

Skye Pharma has noted that Critical Therapeutics, its partner for zileuton CR, has announced the signing of a co-promotion agreement with Merck KGaA affiliate Dey.

The company notes that as a consequence of this accord, a sales team of 240 employees will be able to promote zileuton CR after it receives regulatory approval.

Zileuton CR is currently in development as a treatment for patients aged 12 and older with asthma whose condition is not currently well-controlled with existing medications.

The compound, which uses proprietary Geomatrix oral drug controlled-release technology from Skye Pharma, is currently having its new drug application reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Frank Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Critical Therapeutics, said: “Based on prescribing patterns, we believe that a universe of more than 15,000 physicians, including allergists, pulmonologists and primary care physicians across the country will drive the success of zileuton CR.”

He added that Dey’s coverage of physicians in the respiratory sector and its past record in this market made the firm an “ideal” partner for the co-promotion of the compound.

Skye Pharma forecasts that the drug will be launched during the second half of this year.