Indian Stock Market News and Analysis

Ranbaxy inks pact with Sirtex Medical

Ranbaxy Laboratories inked an exclusive in-licensing agreement with Sirtex Medical (Sirtex), Australia, to promote and market Sirtex`s product, SIR-Spheres.

The product, approved by the US Food and Drug Authority, is used for the treatment of patients with inoperable tumors, from primary colorectal cancer that spreads to the liver (unresectable metastatic liver tumors from primary colorectal cancer).

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SIR-Spheres` are biocompatible radio-active micro-spheres, that contain yttrium-90 and emit bcta radiation. They are implanted using a syringe and travel via the blood stream, whereupon the spheres are targeted to tumors within the liver.

 

SIR-Spheres is used to treat many hundreds of patients with liver cancer in Australia, USA, Europe, New Zealand and Asia in a variety of clinical trials and general practice.

 

Hepato-Cellular Cancer (HCC) is fifth most common cancer in the world and fourth leading cause of cancer death in the world. Though HCC was rare in Western World and common in Asi an Pacific region, there, is worldwide increasing incidence of HCC.

 

SIRTeX Medical“s principal activities include research, development and commercialization of treatments for liver cancer. The company was formed in 1997 to acquire and commercialize a portfolio of three technologies relating to the treatment of liver cancer.

Shares of the company gained Rs 4.25 , or 1.05%, to Rs 410. The total volume of shares traded were 210,923 at the BSE.(Monday ).