Pipeline to East Asia

HenKan Pharmaceutical Co. says its first deal, with CombinatoRx Inc., is part of its strategy to act as a gatekeeper to China, Taiwan and South Korea. The company hopes to in-license more products from the West, like CombinatoRx's CRx-026 to treat cancer, to develop and market them in these East Asian markets, and to out-license products originating in the East to biotech and pharma companies in the West.

Last week, CombinatoRx (Boston, Mass.) granted HenKan (Taipei, Taiwan) exclusive rights to develop and commercialize CRx-026 in Taiwan, China and South Korea. CombinatoRx will receive $500,000 up front and is eligible for up to $23 million in milestones, plus royalties. CRx-026 is in four Phase I/II trials for advanced metastatic solid tumors in patients who have not responded to at least one prior therapy. HenKan plans to fund additional Phase II trials in Taiwan...