SciClone Pharma, BTG Say China's FDA Approves DC Bead

(RTTNews) - SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SCLN), and its partner BTG plc (BTG.L), Thursday said the China Food and Drug Administration has approved the registration of DC Bead for the embolization of malignant hypervascularized tumors.

DC Bead is a novel treatment for liver cancer which is currently approved in 40 countries. It is an embolic bead delivered through a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure to block the blood flow to tumors.

BTG and SciClone previously entered into an agreement granting SciClone exclusive licensing and distribution rights to DC Bead in China.

Under the agreement, SciClone will purchase product from BTG at a specified price for sale in China. Commercial launch plans are now underway.