The deal will see Indena manufacture and market Pharmatoka’s Gikacran extract, 200g of which contains 36mg of the active proanthocyanidin (PAC) components which have been linked to urinary tract infection (UTI) benefits in women.
Japan and China will also feature.
“We are excited to start the commercialization of Gikacran in these countries in which we have an historical important presence, and Japan is the first market we will approach,” said Christian Artaria, Indena marketing director.
“We strongly believe in Gikacran and in its potential, and we are really confident that our product will clearly distinguish from any other cranberry extract on the market”.
Gikacran has appeared in Pharmatoka products Urell and Ellura.
Gunter Haesaerts, CEO and founder of Pharmatoka, added: “Indena and Pharmatoka share the mission to improve health and well-being for people worldwide, summarized in our four principles: Scientific support, close relationship with health professionals, continuous listening to our customers and excellence of our products are what we commit to, and Indena is an excellent partner.”
Approvals
Gikacran is approved in Malaysia as a traditional herbal medicine and in Australia as a complementary listed medicine. It has not won approval for UTI benefits in the European Union despite a claim formerly existing in France and several applications from Pharmatoka and other players like Ocean Spray.
However claims have been won under EU medical devices law.