Merck amp; Co., Inc. has launched SAFLUTAN® (tafluprost) in the United Kingdom and Spain, and additional launches in other countries are expected over the next several months, pending regulatory approvals, the Company said today.

SAFLUTAN is a preservative free, synthetic analogue of the prostaglandin F2α for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in appropriate patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. SAFLUTAN is in Phase III in the U.S.

Merck amp; Co., Inc. which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp amp; Dohme or MSD, and Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced a worldwide licensing agreement for tafluprost. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck agreed to pay an undisclosed fee as well as milestones and royalty payments based on future sales of tafluprost (both preserved and preservative-free formulations) in exchange for exclusive commercial rights to tafluprost in western Europe (excluding Germany), North America, South America and Africa. Santen will retain commercial rights to tafluprost in most countries in eastern Europe, northern Europe and in countries in the Asia Pacific area, including Japan. Merck will provide promotion support to Santen in Germany and Poland. If tafluprost is approved in the U.S., Santen will have the option to co-promote it there. SAFLUTAN marketed by MSD, and TAFLOTAN®, marketed by Santen in respective territories, is the only preservative-free prostaglandin currently available for patients with glaucoma.

Posted in: Glaucoma, Health, Intraocular pressure, IOP, Merck Co