29th Jan 2007 07:01
Sinclair Pharma PLC29 January 2007 Sinclair Pharma plc announces first marketing agreement in China: Aloclair(R) licensed to Auroren Pharmaceuticals 29 January 2007, Godalming, UK: Sinclair Pharma plc ("Sinclair", SPH:L), theinternational specialty pharmaceutical company, announces that it has signed itsfirst marketing agreement for China. Sinclair's flagship mouth ulcer product,Aloclair(R), will be sold by Auroren Pharmaceuticals. China is one of the world's fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets (footnote 1)and its market for OTC healthcare products is growing at an average annual rateof 7.8% (footnote 2). Under the terms of the deal announced today, Sinclair will supply AloclairRinse, Gel and Spray to Auroren, which will be responsible for the marketing anddistribution of the product in China, Hong Kong and Macau. Sinclair will alsoreceive upfront and milestone payments from Auroren, who will have the exclusiverights to promote Aloclair to dental and medical professionals and consumers.Sales are expected to commence in the next financial year following localregistration of the product. Dr Michael Flynn, CEO of Sinclair Pharma, said: "This agreement represents our first step into China and expands our globalmarketing network into a market of very substantial potential. In 2006 weannounced deals to sell Sinclair products in new territories of Russia, Malaysiaand Singapore, and with this deal in China we now reach more than 65 countries.Marketing partners such as Auroren give Sinclair the commercial benefits offast-to-market product sales through companies with local knowledge, whileoperationally Sinclair's focus on sales and marketing remains in their own coreterritories and specialty areas." Mr. Mengkun Chen, Chairman and CEO, of Auroren Pharmaceuticals, added: "We are delighted to be Sinclair's first marketing partner in China, and areexcited about the market opportunity here for Aloclair. Auroren has provenexpertise in product sales and marketing, and a far-reaching sales force of 380people. We believe that these factors will contribute towards the establishmentof Aloclair in the growing Chinese market." - ends - For further information please contact: Sinclair Pharma plcDr Michael Flynn, CEO Tel: +44 (0) 1483 410 600Zoe McDougall, Director of Communications Tel: +44 (0) 7973 792 520John Barrington-Carver, Communications Tel: +44 (0) 7831 655630 UKCapital MS&LMary Clark, Halina Kukula Tel +44 (0)20 7307 5340 GermanyMC ServicesRaimund Gabriel, Hilda Juhasz Tel +49 89 210 228 0 Auroren PharmaceuticalsMs. Ping Zhang, CFO Tel +86 411 875 49088Dr. H. Sheshberadaran, Member Board Directors Tel +1 201 984 1650 Notes to Editors: Sinclair Pharma plc Sinclair Pharma plc is an international specialty pharmaceutical company. Ithas a growing sales and marketing operation that is already present in France,Italy, UK, Spain and Portugal, and a complementary marketing partner networkthat spans more than 65 countries. Sinclair has proven expertise in acquiring or developing commercially attractiveand undervalued products, registering these products and bringing them to marketwithin a short time frame. The company focuses on niche therapeutic areas andits current portfolio includes products for dermatological conditions and oralhealth. Sales of Aloclair in China are expected to commence in the next financial year;Sinclair's financial year runs July-June and the next financial year starts on 1July 2007. Auroren Pharmaceuticals Auroren Pharmaceuticals ("Huirenzhiayo" in Chinese) is a privately held firmlocated in Dalian, Northeastern Liaoning Province. With support from theChinese Government It was founded in 2003 through assets purchases (druglicenses and sales forces) of Dalian No. 5 pharma company. In 2005 Auroren wasawarded triple A Status by Liaoning Provincial Government for its financialstrength and performance. The international focus of Auroren is reflected in its Board of Directors, whichincludes members with experience of both Eastern and Western businesses.Auroren is part of the Jincheng Group., The company has its own manufacturing facilities and has established its owncapabilities to develop, manufacture, register and market Rx and OTC products inChina. Its existing products include Rx and OTC Traditional Chinese Medicines(TCMs) targeting wound healing, cardiovascular and diabetes supportive care.The Chinese regulatory authorities are currently reviewing further products inoncology, pain and urinary infections. Auroren has an in-house sales force of 80 and a further 300 contractsalespeople, who target 25 key provinces in China (out of 34), mainlyconcentrated in SouthEast and Central China. Aloclair Aloclair has marketing clearance in the US and the EU. Sinclair has marketingpartners for the Aloclair range in 57 countries worldwide and has been launchedin 26 countries. Approximately 20% of the general population is affected bymouth ulcers, and they are particularly common in children, women and the over65s. Aloclair is already penetrating this market with retail sales of more than£5m in the major EU countries alone. Aloclair has a novel mode of action,forming a protective coating over the mouth ulcer, providing fast and durablepain relief, without stinging on application. Other languages For versions of this press release in German, French, Spanish or Japanese pleasecontact [email protected] "Safe Harbor" Statement under the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of1995: Some or all of the statements in this document that relate to futureplans, expectations, events, performances and the like are forward-lookingstatements, as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of1995. Actual results of events could differ materially from those described inthe forward- looking statements due to a variety of factors. Footnotes: 1. Investing in China's Pharmaceutical Industry, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, April,2006 2. OTC Healthcare in China to 2009. Datamonitor, November 14, 2005 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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