- Approvals in Hong Kong and Macau mark the first time Targretin® is available in China.
- Bexarotene is a standard-of-care treatment for refractory CTCL in international clinical practice.
HONG KONG, July 16, 2024 — Main Life Corp., Ltd (“Main Life”) today announced that Targretin® (bexarotene) capsules have been authorized for sale in Hong Kong. The drug is indicated for treating cutaneous manifestations of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in patients who have not responded to at least one prior systemic therapy. Targretin®‘s availability provides Hong Kong patients living with this rare disease with access to a treatment considered standard-of-care in international clinical practice. This approval follows an earlier approval in Macau this year and marks the first commercial availability of Targretin® in China.
Targretin® was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with orphan designation in 1999 and is currently available in 36 countries or regions for the treatment of CTCL (data as of December 2022). It is recommended as a treatment option in major treatment guidelines such as those issued by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).
Targretin® contains a type of retinoid called bexarotene as its active substance. It is thought that bexarotene selectively binds to retinoid X receptor (RXR) and suppresses tumor growth by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.
CTCL is a type of primary cutaneous lymphoma characterized by the proliferation and manifestations of T-cells in the skin. This type of lymphoma may reoccur on the same site or spread to other parts of the body, progressing slowly over anywhere between a few years to a few decades, and rarely leading to poor prognosis. Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are the two most common subtypes of CTCL.
The development of Targretin® in Asia began when Minophagen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Minophagen”) obtained a license from Eisai Co., Ltd. in 2012 to develop and commercialize the drug in certain unpenetrated geographies including Asia. Minophagen launched Targretin® in Japan in 2016, and has received Investigational New Drug approval to initiate clinical trials in mainland China.
Main Life has entered into an exclusive agreement with Minophagen and will be responsible for commercialization in Hong Kong and Macau.
Together with Minophagen, Main Life aims to improve the quality of life for patients in the region by offering Targretin as a new treatment option for patients living with CTCL.
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CONTACT: Contact: Main Life Corp Ltd. Product Development Dept. info@mainlife.com.hk