Tanner Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Chao Center for the rights to distribute cycloserine, a drug to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, in the Latin American market.
Cycloserine is used in conjunction with other antituberculars when treatment with primary tuberculosis medications have proved to be inadequate.
"We are proud to announce our agreement with the Chao Center which allows us to offer health-care professionals across Latin America Cycloserine capsules as a treatment option for their tuberculosis patients," said Bryan Somerville, Tanner Pharmaceuticals president. "Because Cycloserine is a highly effective second-line treatment, physicians and their patients will have access to the preferred option for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis."
Tanner intends to market and distribute Cycloserine in a number of Latin American countries where multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a critical health concern.
"Tanner Pharmaceuticals is an important partner in our goal to ensure that these critical life-saving legacy drugs are manufactured and distributed to countries in Latin America and elsewhere," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation.
The Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy and Contract Manufacturing has been producing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis medications since 2007 through an agreement with the Eli Lilly and Co. The Chao Center, which is in the process of closing operations in the coming months, is continuing to manufacture and distribute legacy medicines until new manufacturers can assume operations.
Date: August 18, 2010
Source: Tanner Pharmaceuticals Inc.
