Apricus Biosciences, Biocodex, Mist Pharmaceuticals sales and marketing update

Apricus sold commercialization rights to two programs and said it is focusing resources on commercializing Vitaros alprostadil and developing Femprox alprostadil topical cream. Apricus sold North and South American commercialization rights for Totect dexrazoxane to the Biocodex USA subsidiary of Laboratoires Biocodex. Apricus received a $1.5 million upfront payment and is eligible for double-digit, tiered royalties on Totect sales through 2016. Apricus acquired the topoisomerase II inhibitor, which is marketed in the U.S. to treat extravasation of anthracycline chemotherapeutics, via its 2011 acquisition of the Topotarget USA Inc. subsidiary of Topotarget A/S (CSE:TOPO, Copenhagen, Denmark) (see BioCentury, Jan. 2, 2012).

Apricus also sold commercialization rights for NitroMist nitroglycerin lingual spray in all countries outside North America to Mist. In February 2012, Apricus acquired ex-North American rights to the product from NovaDel Pharma Inc. (OTCBB:NVDL, Bridgewater, N.J.). Mist already has an exclusive, North American license from NovaDel for NitroMist, which is marketed in the U.S. to treat angina pectoris or acute prophylaxis of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease (CAD) (see BioCentury, Jan. 17, 2011 & Feb. 13, 2012). ...