Biologix FZCO licenses rights in Middle East to Contrave (naltrexone HCl / bupropion HCl monotherapy) from Orexigen Therapeutics for weight management.

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Orexigen Therapeutics Ireland Ltd. and Biologix FZCO, have executed a commercialization and distributorship agreement in the Middle East for Contrave (naltrexone HCl / bupropion HCl monotherapy) for weight management in overweight or obese adult patients. This agreement covers ten countries in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Iran.

Under the terms of the agreement, Biologix will be responsible for obtaining regulatory approvals and local product registrations in each of the ten countries and for all commercialization activities. Orexigen will supply Contrave to Biologix at an agreed transfer price. Biologix expects Contrave to be available for patients in some countries starting in the third quarter of 2017.

Obesity and related comorbidities are a significant health problem in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. An estimated 58.5% of men and 65.5% of women in the MENA region are overweight or obese. Rates of overweight and obesity are particularly high in the Arabian Gulf States where, on average, 67% of men and 73% of women are overweight or obese. Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are on the World Health Organization's list of top ten countries worldwide in terms of obesity.