Mallinckrodt plc, a global biopharmaceutical company, and Terumo BCT, a global leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cellular technologies have announced that UVADEX® (methoxsalen) has received regulatory approval in Australia by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for extracorporeal administration with the THERAKOS® CELLEX® Photopheresis System.
Mallinckrodt is trying to reduce its reliance on cash cow product Acthar (corticotropin) for infantile spasms and multiple sclerosis, which brought in sales of almost $309m in the third quarter of 2017, down 6%. Acthar’s slowdown has been attributed by the company to payer resistance affecting prescription fulfilment, and the drug has also been in the spotlight in the US over price increases that culminated in a payer lawsuit a few weeks ago.