Vaxart Inc (VXRT)

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Biota Reports That Laninamivir Octanoate is Approved for the Prevention of Influenza in Japan


Some good news to provide some cover on management greed. This concerns the prophylaxis indication. Laninamivir is already approved for the treatment of influenza in Japan.



ATLANTA, Dec. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BOTA) ("Biota" or the "Company") today reported that Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited ("Daiichi Sankyo") has been granted regulatory approval in Japan to manufacture and market Inavir(R) Dry Powder Inhaler 20mg (generic name laninamivir octanoate) for the prevention of influenza A and B. Inavir(R) was successfully developed and launched by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan for treatment of influenza A and B viruses in October, 2010. Biota is developing laninamivir octanoate outside of Japan for the treatment of influenza, and is currently conducting a large, multi-national Phase 2 trial of laninamivir octanoate in adults infected with influenza. In 2003, the Company and Daiichi Sankyo entered into a collaboration and license agreement to develop long-acting neuraminidase inhibitors, including laninamivir octanoate, and in March 2009, the parties entered into a commercialization agreement, pursuant to which Daiichi Sankyo obtained exclusive marketing rights to laninamivir octanoate in Japan.