Pfizer and Ferring Announce Strategic Collaboration for Degarelix Acetate for Injection in Prostate Cancer Treatment

BEIJING, Aug. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") and Ferring Pharmaceuticals ("Ferring") formally announced that the two parties have agreed on Ferring granting Pfizer exclusive rights to commercialize the innovative prostate cancer treatment drug degarelix acetate for injection (tradename: Firmagon^®）has entered into a strategic partnership for commercial operations in mainland China.

In this collaboration, Pfizer will leverage its industry-leading commercialization capabilities to bring this innovative therapy to physicians and patients in China more rapidly and extensively, and drive a transformative shift in the diagnostic and treatment landscape for prostate cancer.

"The collaboration with Ferring will enrich Pfizer's product portfolio in oncology in China, particularly in prostate cancer treatment," said Pierre Gaudreault, President of Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group China.，“Guided by the philosophy of ‘Science Will Win, Conquer Cancer Together,’ Pfizer will fully leverage its industry-leading commercial capabilities to improve the current treatment landscape in China and shift patient perceptions, enabling innovative therapies to benefit a broader population of prostate cancer patients across the country more rapidly.”

Eric Breumier, Chief Executive Officer of Ferring China, stated: “Ferring is committed to developing innovative drugs and introducing them to China. The launch of Degarelix acetate for injection in China in 2019 is a testament to Ferring’s efforts to improve the accessibility of innovative medicines. We firmly believe that Pfizer is our ideal partner. With its leadership and outstanding performance in oncology, the collaboration between Pfizer and Ferring will benefit prostate cancer patients in China and meet their medical needs.”

Degarelix acetate for injection is a drug for the treatment of prostate cancer developed by Ferring. It was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in September 2018 and officially marketed in China in 2019. Unlike the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists commonly used in clinical practice, degarelix acetate for injection is China'sFirstAs a marketed innovative GnRH antagonist therapy, compared with GnRH agonists, degarelix acetate for injection can rapidly and effectively reduce testosterone levels without the "flare" phenomenon caused by a transient testosterone surge.^[1]. Therefore, it can significantly prolong patients' progression-free survival (PFS), while maintaining a favorable safety profile.^[2], providing a new treatment option for patients with prostate cancer.

As China's aging population issue continues to deepen, the incidence of prostate cancer is on the rise. However, the current five-year survival rate for prostate cancer in China is only 69.2%, significantly lagging behind the 93% survival rate in developed countries such as Japan. This disparity is primarily attributed to the low disease awareness among patients in China, with approximately 70% already diagnosed at the locally advanced or widely metastatic stage upon diagnosis.^[3], posing certain challenges to treatment and prognosis. Leveraging over 30 years of extensive experience in China’s pharmaceutical industry, Pfizer will actively collaborate with various industry stakeholders to deepen public health education on prostate cancer and advance disease diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, entrusting the commercialization of Degarelix Acetate for Injection in mainland China to Pfizer will be of milestone significance.

^[1] Klotz et al (2008) The efficacy and safety of Degarelix: a 12month, comparative, randomized, open-label, parallel-group phase III study in patients with prostate cancer. BJUI, 102, 1531-1538.
^[2]Shi Xiaolei, Zhou Tie, Li Song, Sun Yinghao. Clinical Application and Development Prospects of GnRH Antagonists in Endocrine Therapy for Prostate Cancer[J]. Academic Journal of Second Military Medical University, 2016, 37(012):1506-1511.
^[3]Prostate Cancer Group, Committee of Urological and Male Genital System Tumors, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association. Chinese Expert Consensus on Prostate Cancer Screening (2021 Edition). China Oncology[J]. 2021.31.5:435-440