Medical Futures gets license from Anesiva to market Zingo

SAN FRANCISCO and RICHMOND HILL, Ontario Anesiva and Medical Futures have announced an agreement granting an exclusive license to Medical Futures for the marketing and distribution of Anesiva’s Zingo, a painkiller.

Under the terms of the agreement, Medical Futures will be responsible for all regulatory filings, marketing, distribution and selling in Canada. Under the scope of this agreement, Anesiva is entitled to an undisclosed up-front payment and a fixed transfer price. Medical futures will be responsible for all the costs associated with regulatory, distribution, marketing and selling activities.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Zingo in August to reduce the pain associated with peripheral IV insertions or blood draws in children 3 to 18 years of age. Anesiva said it expects Zingo will be available in the United States in the second quarter of 2008.

“We are aggressively pursuing licensing agreements worldwide for Zingo with the goal of making this drug globally available in an efficient manner in order to maximize its potential market share,” said John McLaughlin, chief executive officer of Anesiva. “Our collaboration with Medical Futures’ enthusiastic and capable team lays the groundwork for expanding access to this new needle-free technology to all of North America. We continue to build upon our previously announced plans to commercialize Zingo in the U.S., and ultimately provide additional value to our stockholders.”