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

LAUSANNE and VILLARS-SUR-GLÂNE, Switzerland, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

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 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 authorization 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 specializes 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: http://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 http://www.viforpharma.com and http://www.galenica.com.

Debiopharm S.A. Contact
Maurice Wagner
Director Corporate Affairs & Communication
Tel.: +41(0)21-321-01-11
Fax: +41(0)21-321-01-69
[email protected]

Vifor Pharma Media Contact
Beatrix Benz
Head of Global Communications
Vifor Pharma Ltd.
Tel.: +41-58-851-80-00
Fax: +41-58-851-80-03
[email protected]

Debio R.P. Contact
Cédric Sager
CEO
Tel.: +41(0)27-721-79-00
Fax: +41(0)27-721-79-01
[email protected]    

Additional Media Contacts
In London
Maitland
Brian Hudspith
Tel.: +44(0)20-7379-5151
[email protected]
   

In New York
Russo Partners, LLC
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
Account Executive
Tel.: +1-212-845-4292
Fax: +1-212-845-4260
[email protected]
   

SOURCE The Debiopharm Group and Vifor Pharma