Helsinn Group Signs Exclusive Agreement With Grünenthal Group for the Registration, Marketing, Promotion and Sales of Akynzeo® (Netupitant/Palonosetron Combo) in Chile

LUGANO, Switzerland and SANTIAGO, Chile, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Helsinn, the Swiss Group focused on building quality cancer care products, and Grünenthal Group have announced today that they have signed an exclusive agreement for the registration, marketing, promotion and sales by Grupo Grünenthal Chile of Akynzeo^®, the oral fixed combination of netupitant and palonosetron, developed for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), in the Chilean market.

This agreement bolsters an already strong partnership between Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care products, and Grünenthal, a German family-owned pharmaceutical Group focused especially on Pain, Central Nervous System, Women´s Health and Diversified Products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Helsinn retains clinical development, international regulatory activities and the manufacturing and supply of Akynzeo^®. Grünenthal Group will have exclusive rights to registration, marketing, promotion and sales of Akynzeo^® in Chile. Akynzeo^® is already approved in the U.S., the EU, Switzerland, Israel, and Australia.

Akynzeo^® has been recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) antiemetic guidelines, both in Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy (HEC) and Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy (MEC). The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) included Akynzeo^® as a recommended additional therapy that will facilitate the application of standard of care for patients receiving HEC regimens. In addition, Akynzeo^® is included in the MASCC/ESMO Guidelines for patients receiving HEC and carboplatin based chemotherapy.

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: "We are delighted to be working with the Grünenthal Group, a trusted partner of Helsinn, to bring Akynzeo^® to Chile, subject to regulatory approval. Akynzeo^® has quickly been recognized by a number of prestigious cancer organizations through its inclusion in the antiemetic guidelines. We are committed to helping people with cancer get the most out of every day and look forward to working with the Grünenthal Group to introduce Akynzeo^® in Chile."

João Simões, General Manager of Grupo Grünenthal Chile, said: "The partnership between Grünenthal and Helsinn in Chile is aligned with our plans to continuously invest and significantly expand our presence in Latin America. The oncology market is very important to us and the promotion of Akynzeo will support us in increasing our sales in this segment, bringing business opportunities for us in Chile, reinforcing our commitment to the country."

About the Helsinn Group 

Helsinn is a privately owned cancer supportive care pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed products and a broad development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality, through a unique integrated licensing business model working with long standing partners in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional supplement products. Helsinn is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Ireland and the US, a representative office in China, as well as a product presence in about 90 countries globally.

In 2016, our 40th anniversary year, you can meet representatives from Helsinn at:

• ASCO Annual Meeting (Chicago, USA, 3-7 June)
• MASCC Annual Meeting (Adelaide, Australia, 23-25 June)
• ChemOutsourcing Conference (Parsippany, New Jersey, 19-21 September)
• CPhI Worldwide (Barcelona, Spain, 4-6 October)
• ESMO Congress (Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-11 October)
• BioEurope (Köln, Germany, 4-6 November)

For more information, please visit http://www.helsinn.com

About the Grünenthal Group 

Grünenthal is an independent, family-owned, international research-based pharmaceutical group headquartered in Aachen, Germany. Grünenthal is an entrepreneurial specialist delivering true benefits to patients. By sustainably investing in research and development above the industrial average, Grünenthal is committing to innovation in order to treat unmet medical needs and bring value-adding products to markets. Grünenthal is a fully integrated research & development company with a long track record of bringing innovative pain treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients. Altogether, the Grünenthal Group is present in 32 countries with affiliates in Europe, Latin America and the US. Grünenthal products are sold in more than 155 countries and approx. 5,300 employees are working for the Grünenthal Group worldwide. In 2015, Grünenthal achieved revenues of € 1.2 bn.

More information: http://www.grunenthal.com

Grupo Grünenthal Chile has started its operations in 1979. In 2014 it acquired Empresas Andrómaco and became the third largest pharmaceutical company in the Chilean market. With two manufacturing plants, it has more than 900 employees and exports products to other countries in Latin America like Perú, Bolivia and Ecuador while also supplying the local market.

For more information please contact:
Helsinn Group
Paola Bonvicini
Head of Communication & Press Office
Lugano, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21
Info-hhc@helsinn.com

Grünenthal Latin America
For media / external inquiries
Llorente y Cuenca
Luiz Gonzales / Nicolas Llanos / Andreina de Abreu
Santiago, Chile
Tel: T.: +56 22 207 3200   / C.: +56 952 165 330
Magdalena 140. Oficina 1801, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile
http://www.llorenteycuenca.com