Clinical Trials Supply (Clinigen CTS), a business division of the Clinigen Group, a specialty global pharmaceutical company headquartered in the U.K., has extended its exclusive E.U. clinical trial distribution agreement with Accord Healthcare, a wholly-owned marketing subsidiary of Intas Pharmaceuticals, to include capecitabine, an orally administered chemotherapeutic tablet.

Accord's capecitabine tablet adds to the company's E.U. portfolio of more than 15 injectable oncology drugs, including cisplatin, cytarabine, docetaxel, doxorubicin and fluorouracil, currently distributed by Clinigen CTS to manufacturers, CROs, clinical re-packagers and other specialist providers for use as comparator, co-therapy, rescue and adjunctive drugs in clinical trials. In June, Clinigen CTS renewed its agreement with Accord to supply these products for two more years and is the sole point of contact for all clinical trial supply enquiries and orders.

The Capecitabine Accord tablet, a hybrid generic version of Xeloda, is available in a new strength of 300mg in addition to existing strengths of 150mg and 500mg. It was launched in Europe, a market worth almost $400 million, in December. The chemotherapeutic is indicated for the treatment of a range of cancers including breast, colon, rectum and stomach and can be used in combination with other oncology products from the Accord portfolio supplied by Clinigen CTS.

"Capecitabine is a key product for Accord," said Daniel Green, hospital director U.K. and Ireland at Accord. "We see clinical trials as an important area into which we can supply the drug and extending our exclusive agreement with Clinigen will allow us to maximize the impact and potential of the product in this area."