Novo Nordisk Inc. Announces Exclusive Agreement With Sciele Pharma, Inc. to Market Prandin(R)

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A F NOVO NORDISK LOGO NOVO NORDISK LOGO Novo Nordisk of North America logo. (PRNewsFoto/Novo Nordisk Inc.)[RD] NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES 02/16/2009

    PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novo Nordisk Inc.
 announced today that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Sciele
 Pharma, Inc. to market Prandin(R) (repaglinide). Under the terms of the
 agreement, Sciele will exclusively market Prandin(R) and, upon approval by
 the US Food and Drug Administration, PrandiMet(R) (the name submitted to
 FDA for a repaglinide/metformin fixed dose combination tablet) to
 physicians in the U.S., and will have a right of first refusal to obtain
 marketing rights in the U.S. to other Novo Nordisk products containing
 repaglinide, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in both Prandin(R) and
 PrandiMet(R).
     "This partnership in the U.S. will enable us to increase the oral
 treatment options for people with type 2 diabetes to help them gain good
 glycemic control," said Martin Soeters, president of Novo Nordisk Inc. "It
 will also allow Novo Nordisk to concentrate on bringing our complete
 portfolio of three insulin analogs to health care providers, which provides
 the most viable opportunity to both help improve patient outcomes and
 realize our business aspirations, in the name of Changing Diabetes(R)."
     Patrick Fourteau, president and CEO of Sciele Pharma, Inc., added, "We
 are pleased to initiate this partnership with Novo Nordisk, a company that
 is widely recognized as a global leader in diabetes care. Prandin(R) fits
 well within our Diabetes product portfolio and will be an excellent
 complement to Fortamet(R). Promoted by our Primary Care sales force,
 Prandin(R) will strengthen our presence in the diabetes treatment market."
     About Prandin(R)
     Prandin(R) is an oral blood glucose-lowering drug of the meglitinide
 class used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. PrandiMet(R) is a
 combination tablet of repaglinide and metformin, which has yet to be
 approved by the FDA.
     Prandin(R) is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise for patients
 with type 2 diabetes whose hyperglycemia cannot be controlled
 satisfactorily by diet and exercise alone. Prandin(R) is also indicated for
 combination therapy use (with metformin or thiazolidinediones) for patients
 whose hyperglycemia cannot be controlled by diet and exercise plus
 monotherapy with any of the following agents: metformin, sulfonylureas,
 repaglinide, or thiazolidinediones.
     Prandin(R) is contraindicated in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis
 (with or without coma, type 1 diabetes, or known hypersensitivity to the
 drug or its inactive ingredients. Prandin(R) is not indicated for use in
 combination with NPH insulin. All oral blood glucose-lowering drugs,
 including Prandin(R), are capable of producing hypoglycemia. Full
 prescribing information is available at novonordisk-us.com.
     Financial terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.
     About Novo Nordisk Inc.
     Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 84-year history of
 innovation and achievement in diabetes care. The company has the broadest
 diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced
 products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition to
 diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as
 hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for
 women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a
 commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social
 responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark,
 Novo Nordisk employs more than 25,800 employees in 79 countries, and
 markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed
 on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the
 New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For global information,
 visit novonordisk.com; for United States information, visit
 novonordisk-us.com.
     About Sciele Pharma, Inc.
     Sciele Pharma, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company specializing in sales,
 marketing and development of branded prescription products focused on
 Cardiovascular/Diabetes, Women's Heath and Pediatrics. The Company's
 Cardiovascular/Diabetes products treat patients with high cholesterol,
 hypertension, high triglycerides, unstable angina and Type 2 diabetes; its
 Women's Health products are designed to improve the health and well-being
 of women and mothers and their babies; and its Pediatric products treat
 allergies, asthma, coughs and colds, and attention deficit and
 hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Founded in 1992 and headquartered in
 Atlanta, Sciele Pharma employs more than 900 people. The Company's success
 is based upon placing the needs of patients first, improving health and
 quality of life, and implementing its business platform -- an
 Entrepreneurial Spirit, Innovation, Speed of Execution, Simplicity and
 Teamwork.
 
 

SOURCE Novo Nordisk Inc.