Hospira Acquires Worldwide Rights to Biogeneric Version of Filgrastim
30 Setembro 2009 - 9:47AM
PR Newswire (US)
Also Acquires Manufacturing Facility From PLIVA -- Expands
Biologics Manufacturing/Commercial Capabilities -- LAKE FOREST,
Ill., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP),
a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company,
today announced the acquisition of worldwide rights to a biogeneric
version of filgrastim and an affiliated European manufacturing
facility from PLIVA Hrvatska d.o.o. (Zagreb, Croatia)
(ZSE:PLVA-R-A), a move that will help extend Hospira's reach and
vertical integration in biogenerics. Financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed. As a result of the acquisition,
Hospira will now have full global rights to the biogeneric
filgrastim that had previously been part of a strategic
collaboration between Hospira and PLIVA/Barr, the latter two
companies now owned by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. As part
of the agreement, Hospira has also acquired process development
capabilities and a manufacturing plant in Croatia. The site has
capacity sufficient to meet Hospira's worldwide filgrastim and
pegfilgrastim requirements, along with expansion possibility for
additional biogenerics manufacturing. "With this agreement, Hospira
expands its reach to new markets for filgrastim, and its global
manufacturing capacity for pegfilgrastim," said Ron Squarer, senior
vice president, Global Marketing and Corporate Development,
Hospira. "Hospira is already well-positioned in the biogenerics
marketplace, given our internal capabilities, our strategic
collaborations and our commercialization experience in Europe. The
additional vertical integration this deal brings, as well as the
access to broader markets for our products, further demonstrates
Hospira's robust commitment to the biogenerics space." Applications
for product approval of filgrastim were filed with the European
Medicines Agency (EMEA) and Australia's Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA) in the first quarter of 2009. Filgrastim is a
granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) used to treat
neutropenia, a condition in which the body makes too few
infection-fighting white blood cells. The condition is often caused
by drugs prescribed for cancer treatment. Hospira's pegfilgrastim
would be a biogeneric version of Amgen's Neulasta,® a
second-generation G-CSF also used to treat neutropenia. Hospira
intends to launch its biogeneric pegfilgrastim in Europe, Asia and
the United States prior to the expiry of patents relating to
Neulasta, and is conducting the requisite clinical work to support
these regulatory submissions. Hospira also intends to register the
Croatian plant and an existing Hospira facility in Australia as
global sites of manufacture for pegfilgrastim. About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication
delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness(TM). As the world
leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira
offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and
oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and
medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira
helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care.
The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has
approximately 14,000 employees. Learn more at
http://www.hospira.com/. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 -- A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This
press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements related to Hospira's biogenerics program,
statements related to an intended launch date, and other statements
regarding Hospira's goals and strategy. Hospira cautions that these
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive,
governmental, technological and other factors that may affect
Hospira's operations and may cause actual results to be materially
different from expectations include the risks, uncertainties and
factors discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" in Hospira's latest Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are
incorporated by reference. Hospira undertakes no obligation to
release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the
result of subsequent events or developments.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040503/HSPLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Hospira, Inc. CONTACT:
Media, Dan Rosenberg, +1-224-212-3366, or Financial Community,
Karen King, +1-224-212-2711, both of Hospira, Inc. Web Site:
http://www.hospira.com/
Copyright