25th Apr 2005 07:00
Sinclair Pharma PLC25 April 2005 SINCLAIR PHARMA PLC SIGNS THREE NEW LICENCING AGREEMENTS Godalming UK, 25 April, 2005: Sinclair Pharma plc ("Sinclair" or the "Company")(SPH.L), the specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition anddevelopment of niche patented pharmaceutical products, today announces three newlicensing agreements, two for Atopiclair(TM) and the extension of an existingagreement for Aloclair(R) Rinse to include Aloclair(R) Spray. Aloclair(R) Spray Sinclair has already concluded a 10 year exclusive Aloclair(R) Rinsedistribution agreement in the UK & Republic of Ireland with Forest LaboratoriesUK Ltd. ("Forest"). Forest has now extended its Aloclair(R) licensing agreementto include Aloclair(R) Spray. Forest is a subsidiary of Forest Laboratories Inc. of New York USA Forestdevelops, manufactures and sells both branded ethical products andnon-prescription healthcare products sold over-the-counter (OTC). The HealthCareDivision has a number of products in its portfolio, many of which are householdnames, and Aloclair(R) Rinse is already available without prescription frompharmacies, including Boots and Superdrug in the UK and Eire. In a recent announcement, The Dental Health Foundation's independent panel ofinternational experts concluded that Aloclair(R) Rinse fully meets its claims ofbeing soothing, pain relieving, hygienic and easy to use, and that it has a safeand clinically proven formula. The DHF concluded that Aloclair(R)'s barrierforming agent, PVP, is designed to form a protective coating over the ulcer.This results in fast pain relief without stinging and also provides protectionagainst the irritation of food and drink. A 2001 study by Taylor Nelson Sofres estimated that one in five people in the UKsuffer from painful mouth ulcers and the probability is slightly higher if youare a woman. Atopiclair(TM) Sinclair has concluded a 10 year exclusive Atopiclair(TM) distribution agreementin Israel with Rafa Laboratories Ltd.,("Rafa"), a long established Israelipharma company with a major commitment to dermatology. Sinclair has also concluded a ten year agreement in Indonesia with a leadingpharma company Dankos Laboratories Indonesia, which is part of Kalbe Pharma.Kalbe Pharma is regarded as one of the largest Pharma companies in Indonesia.Dankos has turnover of 96 million Euros, and controls 16.7% share of theIndonesian OTC market and 2.6% of the ethical market. Atopiclair(TM) is a non-steroidal cream indicated for relief and management ofthe itching, burning and pain that patients experience with atopic dermatitis(AD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). It is already approved in both theUS and the EU, and was the first prescription medical device authorised by theUS FDA to relieve the symptoms of AD and ACD. Atopic dermatitis (also known aseczema) is a chronic inflammatory disease that often has its onset in childhood.Sources such as the American Medical Association and the New England Journal ofMedicine cite paediatric rates of AD in Western countries at up to 20%. Dr Michael Flynn, CEO of Sinclair, commented: "The extension of Forest's existing agreement for Aloclair(R) Rinse to includeAloclair(R) Spray follows the similar agreement extensions in Europe in 20European Countries and the US by Sunstar Butler for Spray and also for Gel.Existing separate agreements for Aloclair(R) Rinse in Italy and Hungary havealso recently been extended to include the Spray Aloclair(R) product. Webelieve that our distributors having tested their markets, now recognise thepotential for our Aloclair(R) family of Rinse, Spray and Gel to expand theproduct's use to cover treatment of large single ulcers and also for paediatricuse as well as the handy spray application at any time. Aloclair(R) continuesto be our a major contributor of revenues. Atopiclair(TM) is an important product for Sinclair in dermatology. It waslicensed in the important US market last December. Outside of the US, thesemarketing licenses are the second and third Atopiclair(TM) agreements we havemade and we are looking forward to further agreement progress in the EU andelsewhere." END Enquiries: Sinclair Pharma plcDr Michael Flynn, CEO Tel: 01483 426 644John Barrington-Carver (Media Enquiries) Tel: 07831 655 630 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. In December 2004 Sinclair licensed Atopiclair(TM) to Chester ValleyPharmaceuticals in the US and in February this year the Company announced it hadconcluded it first EU distribution agreement for Atopiclair(TM) having licensed itto the Portuguese company Dysonovis. Aloclair(R) Ulcer Incidence YNS Omnibus Surveys 2001 and 2003 Mouth ulcers are common particularly in children, women and the over-65. Thecauses of mouth ulcers are generally unknown but contributing factors mayinclude stress, vitamin deficiencies and minor oral injuries. Mouth ulcers arepainful because a layer of the oral mucosa has been removed, exposing the nerveendings beneath. Mouth ulcers may cause difficulties in eating, drinking andeven speaking. Children find mouth ulcers particularly painful and distressing. Clinicians estimate that recurrent mouth ulcers affect up to 20 per cent. of thegeneral population. Specific UK market research found that 1 per cent. of adults"seem to permanently have mouth ulcers", 15 per cent. have frequent ulcers and afurther 12 per cent. experience ulcers rarely. In addition, the under 16sexperience frequent ulcers, accounting for approximately 5 million casesannually in Great Britain alone. ================================================================================ "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. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Sinclair Pharma