8th Feb 2005 07:00
Sinclair Pharma PLC08 February 2005 SINCLAIR PHARMA'S ALOCLAIR(R) RECEIVES UK DENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION APPROVAL FIRST ORAL ULCER PRODUCT TO GAIN DHF ACCREDITATION Godalming UK, 8th February 2005: Sinclair Pharma plc ("Sinclair" or the "Company") (SPH.L), the specialty pharmaceutical company, announces today thatAloclair(R) Rinse has become the first and only product to receive accreditationfrom the UK Dental Health Foundation ("DHF") for the pain relief of mouthulcers. Aloclair(R) Rinse is being marketed by its UK and Eire licensee, ForestLaboratories UK Ltd ("FL") and is available without prescription frompharmacies, including Boots and Superdrug. The Dental Health Foundation's independent panel of international experts hasconcluded that Aloclair(R) Rinse fully meets its claims of being soothing, painrelieving, hygienic and easy to use, and that it has a safe and clinicallyproven formula. The DHF concluded that Aloclair(R)'s barrier forming agent,PVP, is designed to form a protective coating over the ulcer. This results infast pain relief without stinging and also provides protection against theirritation 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. Sinclair has three Aloclair(R) delivery systems - an oral rinse solution, anoral gel which is more suitable for children) and an oral spray. In theprevious financial year ended 30 June 2004, Aloclair(R) Rinse and gel increasedrevenues to Sinclair by 150% to £1.8 million representing a retail brand withsales of about £11.5 million per annum in that year. The Aloclair(R) Rinse is approved in the US and Europe and is currently beingmarketed OTC by Sunstar Butler in the US and some major EU countries. In the UKand Eire it is marketed by Forest Laboratories UK Ltd. Aloclair(R) Gel also hasEU and US regulatory approval and is being marketed by Sunstar Butler in variouscountries and by Recordati (Srl) in Italy. Aloclair(R) Spray was registered in 2004 in the EU and last month in the US andwill be launched in this financial year in the first EU markets. Aloclair(R)Spray provides a controlled application of the soothing formulation in a mobile,easy to use package designed for moments when rinsing with the Aloclair(R) Rinseis not an option and will be marketed in Italy under the trade name Alovex(TM)Spray. Dr. Michael Flynn, Chief Executive of Sinclair, commented: "We are very pleasedthat our UK licensing partner Forest Laboratories has obtained accreditation forAloclair(R) Rinse. The DHF's independent assessment and endorsement of Aloclair(R)'s efficacy is very welcome and we hope will help drive further improvementsin Aloclair(R)'s already increasing UK sales. Aloclair(R) is presentlySinclair's biggest product and we are hopeful that its clear advantages and highcalibre licensing partners will result in the establishment of a successfulglobal brand." For further enquiries: Sinclair Pharma plcDr Michael Flynn, CEO Tel: (0)1483 426 644John Barrington-Carver (Media Enquiries) Tel: (0) 7831 655 630 Financial DynamicsBen Atwell / Lucy Briggs Tel: (0) 207 831 3113 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. "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. www.sinclairpharma.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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