Wyeth says that it has assumed all marketing and distribution rights to the anticoagulant treatment BeneFIX in Europe for patients with haemophilia B.

The company noted that this transfer of responsibility of BeneFIX

(recombinant coagulation factor IX) in Europe follows the conclusion of a 10-year distribution rights agreement between Baxter Healthcare Corp and

Genetics Institute, which was acquired by Wyeth in 1996. In May this year, the company received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency, on enhancements it has to BeneFIX, including a 2000 IU dosage strength vial, a needleless reconstitution device, a prefilled diluent syringe and a low 5 mL diluent volume for all dosage strengths.

BeneFIX is indicated for the control and prevention of haemorrhagic episodes in patients with haemophilia B and Wyeth noted that it now manufactures and sells products for both haemophilia A, with Refacto, and B in Europe.

Karo Bio deal extended

Meantime, Sweden’s Karo Bio says that it has extended its atherosclerosis collaboration with Wyeth for an additional year until August 31, 2008. The primary objective of the extension of the deal, which started in 2001, is to characterise back-up compounds and to further evaluate additional clinical possibilities by targeting LXR, a nuclear hormone receptor that is an important regulator of cholesterol metabolism in mammals.