US Company Studies Rival Format on GSK Anti-Emetic

US-based drug firm Hana Biosciences has begun studies on a lingual spray version for anti-emetic blockbuster ondansetron hydrochloride, marketed by UK drug major GlaxoSmithKline as Zofran. The product, which alleviates severe nausea associated with chemotherapy, is currently only available in the injectable, tablet and oral solution formats.

A patent on the drug is due to expire in June 2006, and Hana now intends to file an investigational new drug application in the hope of an approval in 2007. The US company obtained the US and Canadian marketing rights to the spray version from US speciality delivery systems firm NovaDel Pharma.