Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Tuesday, February 01 2022 - 11:00
AsiaNet
DEBIOPHARM AND ASPEN PARTNER TO LAUNCH PROSTATE CANCER DRUG TRELSTAR(R) IN SOUTH AFRICA
LAUSANNE, Switzerland and DURBAN, South Africa, Feb. 1, 2022, /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Debiopharm (www.debiopharm.com), a Swiss biopharmaceutical company and Aspen, a 
South African headquartered multinational pharmaceutical company announced 
today their partnership to  launch Trelstar(R) (Triptorelin) in South Africa 
for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic hormone dependent prostate 
cancer.  (Trelstar(R), a synthetic analogue of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing 
Hormone) developed by Debiopharm, will be marketed by Aspen in South Africa.
 
In 2020, nearly 14,000 South African men were newly diagnosed with prostate 
cancer1 with an average of 5 men dying from the disease every day.2 In fact, 1 
in every 23 South African men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.2 
Trelstar works by reducing testosterone levels, a hormone essential to prostate 
cancer growth. Deprivation of testosterone stops the growth of hormone 
dependent prostate cancer, alleviating pain and improving the quality of life 
of patients. 

We're really enthusiastic to enter into this new alliance with Aspen, a 
well-established and trusted pharmaceutical partner for the commercialization 
of Trelstar(R) in South Africa and recognize the therapeutic benefits that 
Trelstar(R) could bring to prostate cancer patients in this region. Fabrice 
Paradies, Senior Director, Business Development & Global Commercial Alliances, 
Debiopharm. 

Aspen Pharmacare is excited to be able to deliver a world class oncology 
product in the treatment of prostate cancer and we are privileged to partner 
with Debiopharm to commercialize Trelstar(R) within the South African market. 
We are confident that this product will add significant benefit to the 
treatment of prostate cancer. Neel Andhee-Shah, Head: New Product Development, 
Aspen Pharmacare.

About Trelstar(R) (Triptorelin)
Trelstar(R) (Triptorelin) is an agonist analogue of the natural 
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Debiopharm has developed three 
sustained-release formulations (1, 3 and 6 months) of Triptorelin Pamoate. 
First registered in France in 1986, Triptorelin is currently marketed in more 
than 80 countries by Debiopharm's selected partners and is market leader in 
many territories worldwide. 

About Aspen
Headquartered in Durban, South Africa, Aspen is a partner of choice as it is a 
global specialty and branded multinational pharmaceutical company with a 
presence in both emerging and developed markets. Aspen improves the health of 
patients in more than 150 countries through its high quality and affordable 
medicines. Active at every stage of the value chain, Aspen is uniquely 
diversified by geography, product and manufacturing capability. The 
Group's key business segments are Manufacturing and Commercial Pharmaceuticals 
comprising Regional Brands and Sterile Focus Brands. For more information, 
please visit https://www.aspenpharma.com/.

Debiopharm's commitment to patients
Debiopharm develops innovative therapies that target high unmet medical needs 
in oncology and infectious diseases. Bridging the gap between disruptive 
discovery products and international patient reach, we identify high-potential 
compounds and technologies for in-licensing, clinically demonstrate their 
safety and efficacy and then select large pharmaceutical commercialization 
partners to maximize patient access globally.

Visit us www.debiopharm.com/  
Follow us @DebiopharmNews at http://twitter.com/DebiopharmNews

Debiopharm Contact 
Dawn Bonine – Head of Communications
dawn.bonine@debiopharm.com   
Tel: +41 (0)21 321 01 11

References
1. Globocan 2020; 
https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/913-southern-africa-fact-sheets.pdf

2.  https://mensfoundation.co.za/mens-health/prostate-cancer/

SOURCE: Debiopharm International SA