Sinclair Pharma plc and Intendis GmbH announce licence and marketing agreement for Atopiclair™
- Press Release -
Godalming (UK)/Berlin, 2 October 2006
Sinclair Pharma plc ("Sinclair") the international specialty pharmaceutical company and Intendis GmbH ("Intendis") have concluded a marketing agreement for its atopic dermatitis (eczema) product, Atopiclair™ for eight major territories in the EU and worldwide.
Intendis GmbH, a leading Berlin-based globally operating pharmaceutical company specialising in dermatology, is part Schering AG. Intendis will pay Sinclair upfront licensing fees and milestone payments and a margin on product sales.
Intendis will market the product under the brand name Zarzenda®, selling to dermatologists, paediatricians and GPs. The product will be sold by Intendis exclusively in Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Austria and semi-exclusively in Germany, Spain, Italy and France. The deal includes an option to include Poland and some other territories in the future.
The semi-exclusive deal in the key EU territories will allow Sinclair to commercialise the product as Atopiclair™ in those markets. Sinclair currently sells Atopiclair™ directly through its sales and marketing operation in Italy and plans to launch it in France and Portugal in 2007. Through co-marketing, Sinclair anticipates that there will be fast product introduction and a broader coverage of potential prescribers. The agreement will give Sinclair its first product sales in Russia and is Sinclair’s most significant commercial deal for Atopiclair™ outside the USA.
Atopiclair™ introduces a new concept into the management of atopic dermatitis; the clinically-proven, multicomponent treatment of a condition that is characterised by many different signs and symptoms. The existing market is dominated by topical products with a single active ingredient. By introducing Atopiclair™ under two brands, Sinclair intends to create a new market sector within dermatology.
Commenting Sinclair's CEO Dr Michael Flynn Said: "Intendis is a leading dermatology company whose sales footprint both compliments and strengthens our own presence in Europe and introduces Atopiclair™ into major new markets. With this co-marketing agreement with such a strong dermatology company in Europe, we are aiming to establish a new class of non-steroidal treatment of atopic dermatitis. Atopiclair™ and Zarzenda® will give specialists a clinically proven first-line alternative to steroid treatment."
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kehr, President and CEO of Intendis added: "Zarzenda® is an important addition to our range of dermatological products and one which we expect will help us build not only on our significant global presence in the dermatology market but also our reputation as a partner of choice for quality in-licensed products like Atopiclair™."
Notes to Editors
Sinclair Pharma plc is an international specialty pharmaceutical company. It has a growing sales and marketing operation that is already present in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, and a complementary marketing partner network that spans 60 countries. Sinclair focuses in niche/specialty therapeutic areas and its current portfolio focuses on products for dermatological conditions and oral health.
Sinclair’s goal is to become a sustainably profitable international pharmaceutical company, focusing in niche therapeutic areas, with a direct commercial presence in the key commercial markets.
Sinclair Pharma plc is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on the London Stock Exchange. www.sinclairpharma.com
Intendis, with more than 800 employees is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company and was founded in January, 2005 as a subsidiary of Schering AG, Germany. It continued the dermatological business of Schering as a fully-fledged, stand-alone dermatological company, building on the success and expertise of its highly reputable products and people and currently has a turnover of €223 million p.a. Intendis is focused on delivering high quality and innovative topical and systemic medicines, targeted to treat skin disorders and has a presence in Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey and USA.
Atopiclair™ is Sinclair's non-steroidal cream indicated for relief and management of the itching, burning and pain that patients experience with atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). It is already approved in both the US and the EU, and was the first prescription medical device authorised by the US FDA to relieve the symptoms of AD and ACD. Recent independent studies have established the effectiveness of Atopiclair™ in the treatment of both adult and paediatric cases of AD and as a non- steroidal product Atopiclair™ is well suited to the paediatric market. Atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) is a chronic inflammatory disease that often has its onset in childhood. Sources such as the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine cite paediatric rates of AD in Western countries at up to 20%.
For further information please contact:
| Sinclair Pharma plc | |
|
Dr Michael Flynn, CEO Jerry Randall ACA CFO Zoe McDougall, Corporate Communications John Barrington-Carver, Corporate Communications |
phone: +44 (0) 1483 410 600 |
| Intendis GmbH | |
| Sven Winkler, Corporate Communications | phone: +49 (0) 30 520075 650 |
| UK Financial Dynamics | |
|
Ben Atwell John Gilbert |
phone: +44 (0) 207 831 3113 |
| Deutschland MC Services | |
|
Raimund Gabriel Hilda Juhasz |
phone: +49 (0) 89 210 2280 |
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Some or all of the statements in this document that relate to future plans, expectations, events, performances and the like are forward-looking statements, as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results of events could differ materially from those described in the forward- looking statements due to a variety of factors.
