SCHWARZ PHARMA Announces Agreement With OTSUKA For Jointly Marketing Pletal In Germany

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 14 Dec 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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SCHWARZ PHARMA today announced that SCHWARZ PHARMA Deutschland GmbH has signed an agreement with Otsuka Pharma- ceutical Europe Ltd., UK on the joint marketing of Pletal in Germany. Pletal (cilostazol, developed by Otsuka) is an oral treatment drug for stage II peripheral arterial occlusive disease (intermittent claudication) that has already been proved to be of benefit in the USA, Japan and the UK. This drug is now also available to German patients.

"We are happy to have the opportunity to market Pletal in cooperation with Otsuka Pharma in Germany," says Konstantin von Alvensleben, General Man- ager of SCHWARZ PHARMA Deutschland GmbH. "For the drug complements our in the field of vascular medicine established product Prostavasin and hence offers patients and doctors an expanded range of options for treating this disease."

Intermittent claudication, stage II peripheral arterial occlusive disease, is char- acterized by cramp-like pains in the legs which occur due to circulatory prob- lems after walking a certain distance and disappear again after a period of rest. If the disease is not treated, there is a risk the symptoms will get worse, with the possibility that the distance walked without pain may be shortened further, pain may also occur when at rest, leading all the way to the risk of amputation.

Several hundred thousand patients (in Germany almost 20% of those over 65 years of age are affected) could benefit from this drug, where the correspond- ing development program showed a clinically relevant and statistically signifi- cant improvement of symptoms. In addition, the use of Pletal in treating these patients is also supported by international guidelines.

With both drugs, Pletal and Prostavasin, SCHWARZ PHARMA offers options for the treatment for all phases of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

SCHWARZ PHARMA (headquartered in Monheim, Germany) is a stock listed company with approximately 4,400 employees worldwide. The company develops novel medicines in the therapeutic areas of the central nervous system. Furthermore it markets innovative drugs focused to treat cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal diseases. In 2005 the SCHWARZ PHARMA group achieved global sales of nearly €1 billion. The company has a strong international presence with subsidiaries in Europe, USA and Asia. schwarzpharma.com

Founded in 1964, OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the mission statement: "Otsuka - people creating new products for better health worldwide." Otsuka researches, devel- ops, manufactures and markets innovative, original products, focusing its core businesses on pharmaceutical products for the treatment of disease and consumer products for the maintenance of everyday health. Otsuka is committed to being a corporation that creates global value, adhering to the high ethical standards required of a company involved in health and life, maintaining a dynamic corporate culture, and working in harmony with local communities and the environment.

The Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group comprises 87 companies and employs approximately 27,000 people in 17 countries and regions worldwide. Otsuka and its consolidated subsidiaries earned € 5.3 billion in annual reve- nues in fiscal 2005. www.otsuka.com/International