Xamiol(R) - LEO Pharma's New Drug For The Treatment Of Scalp Psoriasis - Is Approved In Europe

Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 24 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Xamiol® - LEO Pharma's new drug for treatment of scalp psoriasis - has been approved in 16 European countries.

The UK will be the first country to market Xamiol®. This will take place already in the fourth quarter this year.

In extensive clinical studies Xamiol® has proved to be a very efficient drug in the treatment of the chronic skin disease psoriasis, when it occurs in the patient's scalp. Moreover, preliminary market surveys indicate that patients, doctors and dermatologists have great expectations to Xamiol®.

"The approval of Xamiol® opens up for amazing opportunities for LEO Pharma and the tens of thousands of psoriasis patients that have requested an efficient drug for treatment of the serious and visible scalp psoriasis. With the upcoming launch of Xamiol® in Europe, LEO has taken a significant step towards realizing our objective to offer patients the best and most complete treatment of their psoriasis. With Xamiol® the patients get a long sought-after drug that will result in an improving difference in their quality of life, when it comes to the uncomfortable scalp psoriasis," says Gitte P. Aabo, CEO in LEO Pharma.

Prior to the approval of Xamiol®, LEO Pharma has conducted extensive clinical trials involving more than 5,300 people in Europe and the US in order to test the new drug for the treatment of scalp psoriasis.

The clinical results show, inter alia, that:

- Xamiol® has a fast effect and eight out of ten patients concluded that their disease was under control by the end of the treatment.

"Xamiol® covers a vast need among the patients and, therefore, we have great expectations to the product. Xamiol® forms the first part of a number of new products on their way to the market that will cement LEO Pharma as the world's leading pharmaceutical company in particular within the treatment of psoriasis," says Lars Olsen, Executive Vice President, R&D in LEO Pharma.

In June, Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension (the name of Xamiol® in the US) was approved for the American market, and LEO Pharma's partner in the US, Warner Chilcott, is already fully engaged in the related sales work.

Close to 20 million adults in Europe and the United States are suffering from psoriasis and approx. 450,000 new cases of the serious skin disease are diagnosed each year.

65% of all patients suffering from psoriasis have the chronic, inflammatory disease on the body and in the scalp simultaneously. So far it has been very difficult for patients suffering from scalp psoriasis to find effective treatment.

About LEO Pharma

LEO Pharma is an independent research based company with headquarters in Ballerup, Denmark. LEO Pharma is 100% owned by the LEO Foundation and is a globally leading company within Dermatology and Critical Care. LEO Pharma has a strong focus on developing, manufacturing and marketing safe and efficacious drugs for treating psoriasis and other skin diseases as well as thromboembolic disorders.

96% of the turnover, which in 2007 was DKK 5.2 Billion, is generated outside Denmark. LEO Pharma is represented in more than 90 countries and has around 3,000 employees around the world; 1,200 of these in Denmark.

LEO Pharma