Staffordshire pharmaceutical group Clinigen secures German supply deal

STAFFORDSHIRE pharmaceutical group Clinigen has signed a deal with a German research company for the supply of an anti-epilepsy drug.

The deal has been agreed with Eisai EMEA and will see Burton-upon-Trent-based Clinigen exclusively manage an access program for Eisai’s anti-epilepsy drug Fycompa (perampanel) in Germany. This will ensure an uninterrupted supply of the drug at no cost to the German healthcare system, following the temporary suspension of commercial distribution in the country.

The access program will be managed by Clinigen GAP (Clinigen Global Access Programs) and will commence when stocks of Fycompa in Germany are exhausted, something which is not expected to happen until the end of December this year.
 
Fycompa was developed by Eisai and received marketing authorisation by the European Commission in July 2012. It is the first and only approved anti-epileptic drug in Europe which selectively targets AMPA receptors, thought to play a role in seizure generation and spread.

Since Fycompa’s launch in September 2012 approximately 3,000 – 4,000 patients in Germany have benefitted from the drug.

Gary Hendler, President and CEO, Eisai EMEA said: “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Clinigen. Securing a specialist partner to manage the access program for Fycompa has been our highest priority and a critical measure to ensure continuous, uninterrupted supply of the medicine to patients in Germany.”  
 
Peter George, CEO, Clinigen Group said: “We look forward to assisting in the provision of continued access to Fycompa in Germany and are pleased with the confidence entrusted in us by Eisai. As a specialist provider of global access programs we have the experience and expertise to deliver this bespoke access program within Germany.  This program represents the addition of another major pharmaceutical company to our expanding client base.”