Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Hanmi Pharmaceutical's U.S. partner, said it has released Rolvedon (Korean product name: Rolontis), a new long-acting neutropenia biologic drug, in the U.S.

The launch follows the drug receiving marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sept. 13.

"We are thrilled to launch Rolvedon into an estimated $2 billion market," Spectrum CEO Tom Riga said. "Our distribution partners have stocked the product and we are ready to take advantage of this compelling market opportunity."

The launch of Rolvedon is an important milestone in Spectrum's transition to a commercial-stage company, Riga added.

Hanmi CEO Kwon Se-chang also said, "Hanmi will help Spectrum by concentrating all of the company's capabilities so that Rolvedon can achieve good results in the local market."

Rolontis (Rolvedon) is the nation's 33rd new drug to treat or prevent severe neutropenia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Rolontis is the first product to receive marketing approval by applying Hanmi's proprietary platform technology, "LAPSCOVERY," which boosts a bio-medicine's efficacy.

Rolontis is spread in the bone marrow through the pharmacological characteristics of the LAPSCOVERY platform technology. It has excellent hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and proliferation efficacy compared to existing neutropenia products, Hanmi said.