RX Alliance

Debiopharm and Vifor Pharma sign agreement for distribution of Pamorelin� in Switzerland

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:14:22 +0200

Debiopharm and Vifor Pharma sign an exclusive agreement for the distribution and
commercialization of Pamorelin� LA in Switzerland - A drug treatment for prostate cancer and endometriosis in Switzerland -

Lausanne and Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland, 15 May 2012 - Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm) and Vifor Pharma announce the signing of an exclusive agreement covering the distribution and commercialization in Switzerland of the 1-, 3- and 6-month formulations of Pamorelin® LA and of the 3-month formulation of Salvacyl®.

The agreement came into effect on 9 May 2012. Pamorelin® LA, which contains the active substance triptorelin in the form of pamoate salt, is indicated in the treatment of advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer, endometriosis and female infertility. Salvacyl® is indicated in the treatment of severe sexual deviation in men. The 1- and 3-month formulations of Pamorelin® LA are available immediately, while the introduction of the 6-month formulation of Pamorelin® LA and Salvacyl® will be communicated by Vifor Pharma at a later date.

Developed by Debiopharm, the products Pamorelin® LA and Salvacyl® are manufactured by Debio R.P. in Martigny, Debiopharm's site for applied research, controlled release formulation development and production.

"We are very happy that Vifor Pharma and Debiopharm can offer a drug with the added value of Pamorelin® LA to prostate cancer patients in Switzerland and that Pamorelin® LA will be marketed in Switzerland by a well-established Swiss company such as Vifor Pharma," emphasised Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, founder and President of Debiopharm.

«With Debiopharm we have found a renowned Swiss partner. This move will enable us to provide patients and doctors with an innovative product in the areas of oncology and gynaecology," added Josef Troxler, General Manager of the Swiss affiliate of Vifor Pharma.

About Pamorelin® LA (active ingredient: triptorelin)
Triptorelin is an agonist analogue of the natural gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). In 1982, Debiopharm signed a licensing agreement for triptorelin with Tulane University in the US. Debiopharm developed and registered three slow-release formulations (1, 3 and 6 months) of triptorelin pamoate in Europe and the US. These product formulations are currently available under the names of Trelstar® in the US and Decapeptyl® / Pamorelin® in Europe. In Switzerland, the product received marketing authorisation for the treatment of advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer and endometriosis, as well as for downregulation in association with fertility treatment.

About Debiopharm Group
Debiopharm Group specialises in biopharmaceutical development. The group acquires licences of promising biological products and molecules and develops them further with the objective of achieving global registration. In addition, the group works in the field of diagnostic companions and out-licences to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing. The Group finances all its activities independently while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation and regulatory affairs. Established in 1979 and based in Lausanne (Switzerland), Debiopharm Group has developed five products that are commercialized successfully by its partners throughout the world. Debio R.P., based in Martigny, is a pharmaceutical research, development and production company. The production site of Debio R.P. has been certified by Swissmedic (Switzerland) and ANVISA (Brazil), and inspected and registered by the FDA (USA) and the KFDA (South Korea).

Debio R.P. forms part of the Debiopharm Group and employs 130 people, half of whom are university graduates or engineers.

For more information about the Debiopharm Group, please visit: www.debiopharm.com.

About Vifor Pharma
Vifor Pharma, a company of the Galenica Group, is a world leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of iron deficiency. The company also offers a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines as well as over-the-counter (OTC) products. Vifor Pharma, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, has an increasingly global presence and a broad network of affiliates and partners around the world. The Swiss affiliate is located in Villars-sur-Glâne (Canton Fribourg).

For more information about Vifor Pharma and its parent company Galenica, please visit www.viforpharma.com and www.galenica.com

Contact Debiopharm S.A.

Maurice Wagner
Director Corporate Affairs & Communication
Tel.: +41 (0)21 321 01 11
Fax: +41 (0)21 321 01 69
mwagner@debiopharm.com

Media Relations

London
Maitland
Brian Hudspith
Tel.: +44 (0)20 7379 5151
bhudspith@maitland.co.uk

Contact Debio R.P.

Cédric Sager
Generaldirektor
Tel.: +41 (0)27 721 79 00
Fax: +41 (0)27 721 79 01
csager@debiopharm.ch

New York
Russo Partners, LLC
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
Account Executive
Tel.: +1 212-845-4292
Fax: +1 212-845-4260
martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com

Contact Vifor Pharma

Vifor Pharma Ltd.
Beatrix Benz
Head of Global Communications
Tel.: +41 58 851 80 00
Fax: +41 58 851 80 03
beatrix.benz@viforpharma.com

Ewopharma launches state-of-the-art iron therapy from Pharmacosmos

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Ewopharma has entered into a new partnership with the Danish company, Pharmacosmos, a leading specialist in intravenous iron therapy with innovative pharmaceutical products to replenish body iron stores in patients with iron deficiency anemia.

In Bulgaria, Ewopharma now holds exclusive distribution rights for Cosmofer, a parenteral iron formulation of low molecular weight iron dextran. The product is mainly used for patients with chronic kidney disease. To date, more than 70 million doses of Cosmofer have been administered worldwide.

In the second quarter of 2012, Ewopharma will launch Monofer in Bulgaria and Romania. Monofer is the state-of-the-art intravenous iron product (iron isomaltide 1000), which allows to treat patients with iron deficiency anemia in one short visit. Thus, new patient groups where oral iron preparations are ineffective or cannot be used, or where there is a clinical need to deliver iron rapidly can receive a targeted treatment.

BRAND RELAUNCH DR VAN DER HOOG

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:25:28 +0100

Weesp, February 27, 2012 - As part of the brand relaunch of the skin care range Dr van der Hoog®, Santesa BV, member of the Tramedico Group, presents its new TV-commercial.

The brand Dr van der Hoog® has a long and rich history for over 75 years, of which the use of natural ingredients has played a determining role as of day one. In the Dutch market Dr van der Hoog® is market leader in the segment of facial masks. The complete product line consist however of many more fascinating products in the field of luxury skin care.

Natural, Honest, Reliable and… Stylish Over the past 75 years Dr van der Hoog® was linked to three important characteristics : Natural, Honest and Reliable. Natural because of the use of natural ingredients in the products. Honest because of the clear and honest “claims” made for the products and herewith no false hope, resulting in Reliable, a product you can count on.

With the relaunch a fourth value has been added to the list: Style. By adding this element, Dr van der Hoog® becomes a class on its own, a natural class. A value that can be found in the logo, the packaging, the assortment and throughout the publicity campaign.

Campagne – “The skin is like a garment” is the basis of the campaign around the “new” Dr van der Hoog®. The combination of fashion, city life and the natural elements can be seen throughout the media campaign. Models in cocktail dresses consisting of exotic flowers and leaves located in the middle of a metropolitan scenery. With this campaign, Dr van der Hoog® promises natural beauty in the cityjungle.

The assortment is based on the 4 steps in the beauty ritual: cleansing, refreshing, protecting and repairing. This principle exists already from the very beginning of Dr van der Hoog® and will continue to be of importance to Dr van der Hoog®. A difference has been made in the composition of the 5 different product lines under this brand, based on the skin type and the condition of the skin.

For more information, please visit http://www.drvanderhoog.nl/

To watch the new Dr van der Hoog® TV-Commercial, please click on the logo below

Ewopharma AG acquires Newport Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:51:07 +0200

Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Oct 20, 2011 - Ewopharma AG, a privately held Swiss healthcare group with subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Newport Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an Irish healthcare company. Newport manufactures and supplies the immunomodulator drug Isoprinosine� (inosine acedoben dimepranol, IAD), which is indicated for the treatment of a range of viral infections in many countries around the world.

Over the past years, Ewopharma has successfully grown the business with Isoprinosine® in Central and Eastern European markets, under license from Newport. The acquisition now gives Ewopharma full ownership and control over the product for these markets, and it also provides opportunities to Ewopharma for many new markets outside Europe.

Mr. Alain Staub, Chairman and CEO of the Ewopharma Group, commented “We have enjoyed a long standing business relationship with Newport over the past 30 years. This acquisition provides Ewopharma with the facility to develop new markets for IAD, and we are excited with this prospect. We are especially pleased with the experienced management team at Newport, headed by its General Manager Alan Johns, which will be instrumental in achieving the continued growth of the business. We expect that a number of employment opportunities will be created in connection with the acquisition.”

The Irish company KoRa Healthcare, guided by its Managing Director Mr. James O’Daly, has licensed from Ewopharma / Newport the marketing and distribution rights to IAD in finished product form for the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Canada and other overseas markets. In Russia and Ukraine, Isoprinosine® is marketed by TEVA Pharmaceuticals under license from Ewopharma, whereas in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria the product is successfully promoted by Ewopharma’s local subsidiaries. Newport, under the ownership of Ewopharma AG, will continue to supply IAD active pharmaceutical ingredient to its worldwide network of licensees and distributors.

Dermolin opts for Promens' environmental-friendly airless

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:11:00 +0200

Dutch dermatological skincare brand Dermolin, from Santesa B.V. has chosen Promens' Ecosolution airless bottles for packing its new hypoallergenic moisturizing day cream and night cream.

Marketed as an environmentally responsible skin care brand, Dermolin offers formulas that are free from perfume and parabens, in line with women’s new expectations. "Consumers in general increasingly tend to opt for simple but functional and sustainable products that are friendly with the environment" Comments Santesa B.V., the owner of the Dermolin brand.

According to Promens, Ecosolution perfectly meets these expectations. AirFree, its “bag-in-bottle” airless system suits perfectly with this kind of sensitive formulas with few or no preservatives. “The EVOH layer in the pouch has barrier properties and protects the formula from oxygen during the entire time the product is used,” says the packaging supplier in a release. “The AirFree® system guarantees protection against oxygen before and after use: the formulation has no contact with air and the Dermolin preservative-free creams is totally protected from contamination.”

Several environmental assets add up to the advantages of airless regarding the protection of the formula. Indeed, Ecosolution a is 100% plastic (100% polyolefin) system and therefore is 100% recyclable. It does not contain any metal or glass part, or any non recyclable plastic. The Ecosolution system is not required to be disassembled since all parts of both the bottle and the dispensing system are recyclable.

Furthermore, the Ecosolution system has been developed in accordance with an eco-design process: the weight of each part has been optimised, all raw materials used are standard materials, and Promens chose only local suppliers (within a 200 km radius) in order to minimize people and material transportation.
“Thanks to its dispensing system made of 4 parts only, Ecosolution contributes to reduce CO2 emissions by 30%,” says Promens.

Sanova Pharma launches Prospan(R) Cough Lozenges in Austria.

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:00:00 +0200

Sanova Pharma launches Prospan(R) Cough Lozenges in Austria.

Prospan(R) Cough Lozenges are the latest line extension of the world's leading ivy extract brand Prospan(R). Prospan(R) Cough Lozenges are a medicinal product with the indication "relief of cough in the case of catarrhs of the airways". The ivy extract enlarges the bronchial tubes and leads to the separation of viscous mucus. Thus Prospan(R) Cough Lozenges relieve to cough up, reduce the tickle in the throat and the breathing is improved noticeably. Prospan(R) is the number one brand of the German company Engelhard Arzneimittel in Niederdorfelden.

Sanova is the leading distribution company in Austria. Foreign companies which like to see their products in Austria cooperate with Sanova when it comes to the marketing, sales and logistics of medicinal products, medical devices, food supplements and cosmeceuticals.

Sanova Pharma launches Cystorenal(R) Cranberry Plus in Austria

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:00:00 +0200

Sanova Pharma launches a food supplement Cystorenal(R) Cranberry Plus in Austria.

Sanova Pharma launches Cystorenal(R) Cranberry Plus in Austria.

Cystorenal(R) Cranberry Plus is a food supplement to be used with non-complicated urinary tract infections. The product consists of cranberry, pumpkin seeds and vitamin-C. The claim on the pack is "for healthyness of the bladder". Cystorenal(R) Cranberry Plus is manufactured by the German company Quiris Healthcare in Gütersloh (D).

Sanova is the leading distribution company in Austria. Foreign companies which like to see their products in Austria cooperate with Sanova when it comes to the marketing, sales and logistics of medicinal products, medical devices, food supplements and cosmeceuticals.

Cooperation Ewopharma AG and Spirig Pharma AG

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:19:17 +0200

Ewopharma and Spirig announce the cooperation in dermatology in Poland.

Ewopharma AG is pleased to announce its new cooperation with Spirig Pharma AG, an independent Swiss dermatology specialist. Spirig is clear market leader in dermatology in Switzerland and is selling its products successfully also in Europe and North America.

Ewopharma will act as exclusive distributor of Spirig in the Polish market as from September 2011. Spirig’s innovative products will be promoted by Ewopharma’s dedicated consumer healthcare sales force to dermatologists, pediatricians, pharmacists and consumers.

Emollients for dry skin disorders and skin protection solutions for hands at work are offered under the Excipial brand.

Under the Daylong brand, a range of leading sun protection products will be marketed; amongst others Daylong actinica, the first sunscreen clinically proven to reduce the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in high-risk patients.

Products for fungal infections and keratolytic disorders complete the portfolio in Poland.

Gothenburg-based ABIGO Medical AB wins Swecare Export

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:33:17 +0200

"ABIGO Medical is an excellent example of Swedish innovation leading to more jobs and steady growth in turnover for the company." In presenting the award, State Secretary Karin Johansson cited innovation, creativity and novelty as the reasons why ABIGO Medical had won.

“ABIGO Medical is an excellent example of Swedish innovation leading to more jobs and steady growth in turnover for the company. Increased exports lead to greater prosperity, which is well illustrated by ABIGO, a very worthy winner of Swecare Export Award 2010," says the State Secretary.
Swecare Export Award was instituted in 2008 to mark Swecare´s 30th anniversary. The annual prize is intended to encourage and highlight successful Swedish companies in life science and health care and best practice in export efforts. “We are proud of the award, which confirms that hard work pays off. Swecare will play an important role in our internationalisation strategy," says a happy Jan Smith, executive chairman of ABIGO Medical AB. The award was presented at the annual conference of Swecare on 24 May 2011.
Citation: “The winner of this year´s award is a Gothenburg-based company launched in 1989. The company operates in the area of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Fifteen new employees were taken on in 2010 as a result of the company's expansion, and today the ABIGO group has a total of 55 employees. The company´s business philosophy is based on high-quality research and development activity. The products have great international potential. ABIGO's unique wound-healing products are now available in 65 countries and are made in the company's modern Askersund factory. The internationalisation has taken place with a significant rate of growth, at the same time as financial margins have increased for the company."

For further information, contact: Jan Smith, Executive Chairman of ABIGO Medical AB, tel: +46 (0)70 553 37 71, jan.g.smith@abigo.se