Pediapharm Inc. Acquires Naproxen Suspension from Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
02 Julho 2014 - 8:30AM
Marketwired Canada
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE
UNITED STATES
Pediapharm Inc. ("Pediapharm") (TSX VENTURE:PDP) and Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
("Roche") announced today they have entered into an asset purchase agreement
regarding the Canadian rights to Roche's naproxen suspension. Roche will retain
the Naprosyn(TM) trademark and retains all product rights to the other oral
dosage forms under this brand.
This product in its suspension form is only available under prescription (Rx)
and is indicated for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Due to the
significant unmet medical need, it will be reintroduced to the market as
Pediapharm naproxen suspension.
It is also indicated for the relief of minor aches and pains in muscles, bones
and joints, mild to moderate pain accompanied by inflammation in musculoskeletal
injuries (sprains and strains) and primary dysmenorrhea.
The product is primarily used for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in
children 2 years or older due to its more flexible dose titration based on the
child's weight. It is the only available liquid form of naproxen on the Canadian
market. It is estimated that there are over 6,000 children presently living with
arthritis in Canada.
"Roche is pleased to be working with Pediapharm to ensure this important
medication will remain available in Canada for the treatment of conditions like
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis," said Richard Wright, Vice President Sales and
Marketing Specialty Care, Roche Canada. "Roche has a long history in developing
treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases, and this
collaboration builds on our commitment to meet the needs of patients."
At the same time, Roche and Pediapharm are working to establish a temporary
special access to a similar liquid product. The companies will inform the
medical community about this possibility in the near future.
"Naproxen helps treat the pain of juvenile arthritis; however, children can have
difficulty swallowing pills, and liquid naproxen provides another way to
administer this treatment to them," said Dr. Rosie Scuccimarri, representative
of the pediatric committee of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). "The
CRA is pleased that Roche Canada and Pediapharm have collaborated to ensure that
this important treatment will continue to be available to patients who require a
liquid form of naproxen," said past president Dr.Carter Thorne.
"Given the importance of providing formulations adapted for pediatric dosing,
both companies have been seeking a short-term solution to reintroduce the
product on the market. We are confident that in the interim, we will be able to
work with the regulatory authorities to provide a short-term treatment option to
patients that absolutely require a liquid formulation", said Benoit Hebert,
Pediapharm's Vice President of Business Development and Licensing. "The speed at
which this project has materialized into a beneficial transaction for both
parties is yet another example of the expertise within Pediapharm.
"This transaction is Pediapharm's first product acquisition and we feel there is
significant growth potential for this product in the oral liquid NSAID market
estimated to exceed 8M$, considering that the total Canadian prescription NSAID
market is valued at more than 76 M$. I am very proud of this achievement as it
highlights Pediapharm's determination to support the pediatric community and
finding solutions to their unmet medical needs. It further demonstrates our
deal-making ability. We believe it paves the way for more product acquisitions
in the near future," said Sylvain Chretien, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Pediapharm Inc. "We expect this transaction to rapidly impact
favorably our revenues as we re-launch the product."
Pediapharm intends to make the naproxen suspension available again within the
next 8 months.
About Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused
healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is
the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in
oncology, infectious diseases, inflammation, metabolism and neuroscience. Roche
is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer
diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Roche's personalized
healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable
tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients.
In 2012 Roche had over 82,000 employees worldwide and invested over 8 billion
Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.5 billion Swiss francs.
Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group.
Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more
information, please visit www.roche.com.
Naprosyn(TM) is a trademark of Hoffmann-La Roche Limited.
About the Canadian Rheumatology Association
The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) is the national professional
association for Canadian rheumatologists.
The mission of the CRA is to represent Canadian Rheumatologists and promote the
pursuit of excellence in Arthritis Care, Education and Research. The CRA,
re-established in 1993, in its current iteration, has organizational roots
reaching back to the Canadian Rheumatic Disease Association (1936) and Canadian
Rheumatism Association (1946). The goals of the association include advancing
professional camaraderie, research and training to improve the health of
Canadians with rheumatic diseases. Today, the CRA comprises over 500 members
throughout all 10 provinces and territories.
Since its inception, the CRA has promoted and advanced the field of rheumatology
by organizing networking, training and education opportunities for clinicians,
students, allied health professionals and researchers. More recently the CRA has
become involved in the promotion and coordination of funding for important
rheumatology research (CIORA).
The CRA's vision is to improve the care and quality of life of patients
suffering from rheumatic conditions. According to a Health Canada study, an
estimated 1 in 6 Canadians has some type of arthritis; two thirds of affected
Canadians are under the age of 65 years. Arthritis and rheumatic diseases not
only have a profound effect on patient quality of life, but also accounts for an
estimated $33 billion burden on Canadians.
About Pediapharm Inc.
Pediapharm is the only Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to
serving the needs of the pediatric community. Its mission is to bring to the
Canadian market the latest innovative pediatric products with the objective to
improve the health and the well-being of children in Canada. Since its debut in
2008, Pediapharm has entered into numerous commercial agreements with partners
from Canada and other countries around the world.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS FOR PEDIAPHARM
This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that
are not historical. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to
vary materially from target results and the results or events predicted in these
forward-looking statements. As a result, investors are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the
date of this release. Except as required by applicable law, the Corporation
disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. Forward-looking information reflects the current
expectations or belief of the Corporation based on information currently
available and such information is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and
uncertainties described in details at pp. 35 to 41 of the Management Information
Circular of Chelsea Acquisition Corporation dated November 12, 2013 available on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and other risks associated with being a specialty
pharmaceutical company.
For more information about Pediapharm or its products, please visit
www.pedia-pharm.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Lee Rammage
Manager, Corporate Relations
+1-416-560-9850
lee.rammage@roche.com
Canadian Rheumatology Association
12-16715 Yonge Street, Suite 244
Newmarket, ON L3X 1X4
+1- 905-952-0698
info@rheum.ca
Pediapharm Inc.
Sylvain Chretien
President and Chief Executive Officer
+1-514-762-2626 ext. 201
sylvain.chretien@pedia-pharm.com
Roland Boivin
Chief Financial Officer
+1-514-762-2626 ext. 202
roland.boivin@pedia-pharm.com
Relations Publiques Paradox Public Relations Inc.
Carl Desjardins
+1-514-341-0408
carldesjardins@paradox-pr.ca
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