ViroPharma Incorporated and Idis Partner to Facilitate International Access to Certain ViroPharma Therapeutics Through Named Patient Program

EXTON, Pa. and WEYBRIDGE, England, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) and Idis, the global leader in developing long-term strategic solutions to therapeutic access, today announced that the two companies have partnered to facilitate access to certain ViroPharma products through a named patient program (NPP).  ViroPharma's NPP, developed and managed by Idis, will allow international healthcare professionals to prescribe certain products to individual patients until the time that approval is sought in local countries.

Under an NPP, physicians can prescribe investigational or pre-approval products to qualifying patients on an individual basis. Such products can be administered to individual patients who are suffering from serious illnesses and have no other therapeutic options.  Idis will manage the ViroPharma NPP in countries, except the United States, where the products are not yet approved.

Licensed healthcare professionals in countries other than the United States where such ViroPharma products are not yet approved, can access the program at http://www.viropharmaNPP.com and on the physician section of the ViroPharma Incorporated corporate website (http://www.viropharma.com), or can contact Idis directly via telephone at +44(01)1952 824 100, fax +44 (0)1932 824 300, or via email at [email protected].

"This program was developed for certain patients who have no alternative therapeutic option for their serious diseases," commented Thierry Darcis M.D., vice president, general manager, ViroPharma Europe. "They are in great need of access to investigational therapeutics that have either been approved in other parts of the world or have shown promise in clinical studies, prior to the time that regulatory approval is sought. ViroPharma is dedicated to meeting the needs of patients, and the management of this NPP with our partners Idis is consistent with that goal."

"The named patient program that we have developed for ViroPharma will help ensure access to important therapies for patients with urgent unmet medical needs. Idis will work in close partnership with ViroPharma to manage named patient requests in a way that is reliable, responsible and legal, ensuring the regulatory obligations are met," commented Simon Estcourt, business development director, Idis.

About ViroPharma Incorporated

ViroPharma Incorporated is an international biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing innovative products for physician specialists to enable the support of patients with serious diseases for which there is an unmet medical need, and providing rewarding careers to employees. ViroPharma commercializes Cinryze(R) (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). ViroPharma commercializes Vancocin(R), approved for oral administration for treatment of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile and enterocolitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (for prescribing information on ViroPharma's commercial products, please download the package inserts at http://www.viropharma.com/Products.aspx). ViroPharma currently focuses its drug development activities in diseases including C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency and C. difficile.

ViroPharma routinely posts information, including press releases, which may be important to investors in the investor relations and media sections of our company's web site, http://www.viropharma.com/. The company encourages investors to consult these sections for more information on ViroPharma and our business.

About Idis

Idis is the global long-term partner to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, pharmacies and physicians. Making sure that the patient is at the heart of everything we do, by developing long-term strategic solutions to creating an understanding of and access to medicines around the globe, enhancing life from different perspectives. Idis Named Patient Programmes (NPPs) create access for the benefit of the patient. Corporate headquarter based near central London, Idis has been a strategic partner to the world's top 10 pharmaceutical and biotech companies. For more information on Idis, please visit the website http://www.idispharma.com

SOURCE ViroPharma Incorporated