31st May 2005 07:00
Sinclair Pharma PLC31 May 2005 Sinclair Announces Launch of Decapinol(R) Four new licensing agreements - SST(TM), Salinum(TM) & Aloclair(R) Godalming UK, 31 May, 2005: Sinclair Pharma plc ("Sinclair" or the "Company")(SPH.L), the specialty pharmaceutical company, announces that Decapinol(R), thecompany's oral rinse for the treatment and prevention of gingivitis has beenlaunched in Italy, the product's first market. Sinclair also announces todaythe signing of a further four licensing agreements, two for Aloclair(R) Rinseand one each for SST(TM) and Salinum(TM). DECAPINOL(R) The launch of Decapinol(R) follows the license of this product in Italy inDecember 2004 to the private Swiss based group Dompe International S.A.("Dompe"). Dompe is a leading European Pharmaceutical & Biotech Company withmore than 800 employees. It will be marketing Decapinol(R) through its 228strong sales force and the product will be rolled out across Italy in the comingweeks. Decapinol(R) is approved in the EU and also recently received US FDA approval. Eugenio Aringhieri, C.E.O. of Dompe Farmaceutici s.p.a. commented: "I considerDecapinol(R) to be an efficient and safe therapeutic instrument that, throughcorrect positioning, could guarantee the strengthening of our company's presencein the field of buccal (cavity) diseases and on the dental health community." Dr Michael Flynn, CEO of Sinclair, said: "we believe that a good efficacyprofile and high level of patient acceptance of Decapinol(R) provides verysignificant benefits and we expect the product to rapidly gain acceptance in themarket place. Italy is our first launch into Europe and we are confident thatDompe will rapidly establish Decapinol(R) in this market. We expect our otherEuropean Licensee Inibsa (Spain) to launch the product in Autumn 2005. ORAL HEALTH LICENSING AGREEMENTS Aloclair(R) Sinclair has licensed Aloclair(R) Rinse, it's oral rinse for mouth ulcers, toPharmbio Korea under a ten year exclusive agreement to market the product inKorea. Pharmbio Korea is a rapidly growing Pharma company distributing OTC andprescription healthcare products. The company is already distributing XclairTM for Sinclair in Korea. The Company has also licensed Aloclair(R) Rinse in Australia to Meditech Int.Pty Limited ("Meditech") for an exclusive ten year contract. Established fornearly ten years Meditech specializes in OTC products in oral health and ageingin the Australasian and Far Eastern markets. Aloclair(R) is presently Sinclair's largest selling product and is now licensedto partners in more than 45 countries many of which are presently preparing forfirst launch of the product. Salinum(TM) Sinclair has licensed Salinum(TM) in Austria to Novapharm Bio, a newlyestablished Pharma company. The exclusive contract runs for ten years.Salinum(TM) is Sinclair's saliva replacement product for the treatment of drymouth syndrome ("xerostomia") when the salivary glands are able to producelittle or no saliva. (See notes to Editors below). MORE SST(TM) Sinclair has licensed SST(TM) in Korea to MediFocus Co. Ltd, for an exclusiveten year period. Medifocus is a dynamic company established in 2002 by highlyexperienced executives in Korean pharmaceutical sales. SST(TM) is Sinclair'ssaliva stimulating tablet for the treatment of milder forms of dry mouthsyndrome. (See notes to Editors below). Enquiries: Sinclair Pharma plcDr Michael Flynn, CEO Tel: 01483 426 644 Financial DynamicsBen Atwell / Lucy Briggs Tel +44 (0) 207 831 3113 www.sinclairpharma.com Notes to editors: Sinclair Pharma plc Sinclair Pharma plc based in Godalming in the UK, is quoted on the AlternativeInvestment Market (AIM) on the London Stock Exchange and has focused on theacquisition and development of niche patented pharmaceutical products in thefields of oral health, oncology support and dermatology, and bringing them tothe international market place via out-licensing partners. The Company combinesproduct evaluation, product development, regulatory and business developmentexpertise to add value to its acquired and in-house developed products. A keyelement of the Sinclair business model is to minimise risk and exposure byavoiding involvement in lengthy R&D programmes and rapidly achieving globaldistribution through a network of marketing partners. The Company has alreadylicensed its products for distribution in over 40 countries around the world. Gingivitis: Surveys show that more than 60% of the adult population suffers fromgingivitis. Apart from halitosis gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which iscaused by accumulation of bacteria within dental plaque. These bacteria causelocal inflammation of the gum, causing it to bleed easily, and can eventuallylead to tooth loss. Improved attention to oral hygiene routine can help toprevent and control the condition. Decapinol(R) acts by selectively interferingwith the attachment of harmful bacteria to the teeth and gum surfaces, incontrast to antiseptics and antibiotics, which kill all oral bacteria and affectthe natural balance of beneficial oral bacteria. Clinical trials have shownDecapinol(R) to have fewer side effects and to be better tolerated thanchlorhexidine which is presently one of the best recognised mouthwash treatmentsfor gingivitis. Sinclair believes that Decapinol(R) is the first new chemicalentity for gingivitis for the past 30 years and that it has the potential togrow the existing markets. Oral ulcers & Lesions: The global mouth ulcers market is estimated to be worthmore than $1 billion per annum. TNS market research conducted for Sinclairindicates that 16% of the adult population get an oral ulcer over a 12 monthperiod and 64% of that population seek pain relief with a medication. Xerostomia is the abnormal reduction of saliva, usually due to medication,disease, surgery or ionizing radiation. It is characterised by feelings of a drymouth. Xerostomia is extremely common in the general population and even morecommon in specific groups of patients, for example: cancer patients, patientsbeing treated with CNS medications (e.g. psychiatry), patients with rheumatoidconditions, patients receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck, diabetespatients and also those receiving a number of different medications. Approximately 1.5% of the adult population has severe chronic xerostomia - i.e.symptoms that significantly interfere with their everyday life and are presentmost or all of the time. These are the patients who are most likely to seektreatment and choose a saliva substitute such as Salinum. An additional 6% of the male population, or 12% of the female populationexperiences milder but chronic xerostomia, i.e. symptoms that are constantlypresent but less severe. These patients also tend to seek some solution fortheir xerostomia and are a good target market for SST(TM) or Salinum(TM). This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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