Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a provider of products in the areas of women's health care and a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) and Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq: PGNX) declared on 3 July that the partnership has received marketing approval for RELISTOR, (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection, from the European Commission for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in advanced illness patients who are receiving palliative care, when response to usual laxative therapy has not been sufficient.

According to the company, RELISTOR is now approved in the 27 member states of the European Union as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. The product is the first approved treatment for OIC in the European Union.

RELISTOR is expected to be launched in Europe on a country-by-country basis. The first shipment is anticipated later in July.  According to the report, more than 1.5 million Americans receive palliative care, due to an advanced illness such as incurable cancer and other end-stage diseases each year.