Regulatory Filings • Mar 4, 2022
Regulatory Filings
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Photocure announces Endotherapeutics Group as New Commercial Partner for Hexvix in Australia & New Zealand
Press release - Oslo, Norway, 4 March 2022: Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the
Bladder Cancer Company, announces that it has entered into an exclusive
distribution agreement with Endotherapeutics Group for the commercialization of
Hexvix[®] in Australia and New Zealand, and has terminated its distribution
agreement with Juno Pharmaceuticals (Juno). Under the new agreement,
Endotherapeutics will hold Marketing Authorizations and will re-launch Hexvix in
the two territories. All three parties will work closely together to ensure a
streamlined transfer and uninterrupted Hexvix supply to customers.
Endotherapeutics is a leading diversified medical technologies company focused
on improving healthcare in Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years across
several specialty areas. Its subsidiaries in Australia (Endotherapeutics Pty.
Ltd) and New Zealand (Endotherapeutics NZ Ltd, trading as Endoventure) will be
responsible for the commercialization of Hexvix in their respective territories.
Urology and men's health represent important treatment segments for
Endotherapeutics, with a highly qualified and experienced urology team that is
customer focused and provides access to technologies and clinical support to the
private and public health care sectors. Endotherapeutics Pty. Ltd and
Endoventure are the exclusive distributors of the HIVECT bladder recirculation
system in Australia and New Zealand used in the treatment of bladder cancer*.
Endotherapeutics' already established relationships with Urologists treating
bladder cancer offers clear synergies for the simultaneous promotion of Hexvix.
Photocure and Juno have mutually agreed to terminate their distribution
agreement dating back to 2015. Since in-licensing Hexvix, Juno's business model
has evolved towards a focus on off-patent hospital tender products and away from
the regular sales, service and support required to market Hexvix. Photocure and
Juno will support Endotherapeutics to ensure a smooth transition and
uninterrupted supply of the product.
"We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Endotherapeutics to distribute
and market Hexvix in Australia and New Zealand. Their regional presence,
expertise and relationship with urologists is impressive. We are looking
forward to working with them to bring the benefits of BLC with Hexvix to
patients who suffer from bladder cancer," said Dan Schneider, President and CEO
of Photocure.
"We look forward to adding Hexvix to our suite of products in urology care and
bringing it to more clinics and hospitals in Australia and New Zealand to
improve the quality of bladder cancer management. Our preliminary discussions
with top clinicians who treat bladder cancer confirm that there is a significant
need for Hexvix. It is a privilege to work with the Photocure team and the blue
light cystoscopy equipment providers to broaden the use of Hexvix in our
region," said Ivan Srejber, Group Executive Chairman, Endotherapeutics Australia
and New Zealand.
*Photocure is the exclusive distributor for the HIVECT system in the Nordic
countries
For further information, please contact:
Dan Schneider
President and CEO
Photocure ASA
Email: [email protected]
Erik Dahl
CFO
Photocure ASA
Tel: +47 45055000
Email: [email protected]
David Moskowitz
Vice President, Investor Relations
Photocure ASA
Tel: +1 202 280 0888
Email: [email protected]
Media and IR enquiries:
Geir Bjørlo
Corporate Communications (Norway)
Tel: +47 91540000
Email: [email protected]
Note to editors:
All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered
trademarks of Photocure ASA.
This press release may contain product details and information which are not
valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that
Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which
may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the
country of your origin.
About Endotherapeutics
Endotherapeutics was founded in 1999 by Ivan Srejber with a small team, with a
focus on innovative, specialised medical technologies that provided access to
life-improving solutions to healthcare professionals and their patients.
With its mission of "Improving Healthcare" and a strong focus on its values,
Endotherapeutics is proud of its strong reputation and relationships with
customers and partnering with leading international healthcare companies.
Over 20 years of experience has allowed Endotherapeutics to develop extensive
knowledge of the Australian and New Zealand healthcare systems. This includes
the registration and reimbursement of new medical technologies and their
successful sales and marketing.
Today Endotherapeutics is a leading Australian healthcare technologies company
that operates across both Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand
Endotherapeutics is known and trades as Endoventure, and is a highly regarded
and customer focused organisation, whose Managing Director is Rachelle Hodgson.
Endotherapeutics contacts:
Ivan Srejber
Group Executive Chairman | Australia & New Zealand
Email: [email protected]
New Zealand contact information:
Rachelle Hodgson
Managing Director
Endoventure
Email: [email protected]
About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the seventh most common cancer worldwide with 1 720 000
prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)[1a], 573 000 new cases and more than
200 000 deaths annually in 2020.[1b]
Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.[1] It has a high
recurrence rate with an average of 61% in year one and 78% over five years.[2]
Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all
cancers.[3]
Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients
have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There
is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder
cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike.
Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
(NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of
invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining
the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include
the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has
grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes
T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.[4]
[1] Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population.
Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [April 2021].
[2] Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657
[3] Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295-300
[4] Bladder Cancer. American Cancer
Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html
About Hexvix[®]/Cysview[®] (hexaminolevulinate HCl)
Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the
bladder making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC[®]). BLC
with Hexvix/Cysview[ ]improves the detection of tumors and leads to more
complete resection, fewer residual tumors and better management decisions.
Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all
other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S.
and Europe, and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of
Hexvix/Cysview in China, Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Please refer
to https://photocure.com/partnering-with-photocure/our-partners/ for further
information on our commercial partners.
About Photocure ASA
Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to
improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making
cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients
worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo
Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at
www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com
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