NEW FDA-APPROVED TREATMENT FOR ORAL MUCOSITIS
DALLAS, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. , (http://www.accesspharma.com) announced today that MuGard(TM), its proprietary oral mucositis product has been launched in Germany, Italy, UK, Greece and the Nordic countries by its European commercial partner, SpePharm, a pan-European specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the provision of high medical value medicines in supportive and critical care. The Company has previously announced commercialization agreements in North America, China and eight Southeast Asian countries and Korea, and is actively seeking additional marketing partners in other regions; MuGard expects commercial launches in these regions throughout the remainder of 2009 as manufacturing and reimbursement gets established regionally.
MuGard is a ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of many anticancer treatments. Up to 40% of all patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy develop moderate to severe mucositis, and almost all patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and those undergoing stem cell transplantation develop mucositis. Updated clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of mucositis recommend the use of a preventive oral care regimen as part of routine supportive care along with a therapeutic oral care regimen if mucositis develops. The market for the treatment of oral mucositis is estimated to be in excess of $1 billion world-wide.
“Access is pleased with the commercial launch of MuGard in Europe, and the progress made by our partners in other regions of the world,” said Phillip Wise, Vice President of Business Development at Access. “Access is also working with its partners outside of Europe to establish GMP manufacturing and secure necessary approvals and/or reimbursement from the individual governmental regulators, which we believe will greatly enhance initial product adoption and ongoing marketing efforts to reach and penetrate the target population of patients requiring this important treatment option,” he continued.
MuGard forms a protective coating over the oral mucosa when swirled gently around the mouth. In a comparison of cancer patients receiving standard mucositis care with those patients receiving MuGard, the incidence and severity of mucositis was significantly lower in the MuGard treated group using a validated scale for the assessment of oral mucositis.
About Access:
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access’ products include ProLindac(TM), currently in Phase 2 clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer, and MuGard(TM) for the management of patients with mucositis. The company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including Cobalamin(TM)-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery, its proprietary nanopolymer delivery technology based on the natural vitamin B12 uptake mechanism; and Angiolix(R), a humanized monoclonal antibody which acts as an anti-angiogenesis factor and is targeted to breast cancer. Access recently announced completed the acquisition of MacroChem Corporation. This acquisition provides Access with Thiarabine, a new generation nucleoside analog which has demonstrated both pre-clinical and clinical activity in certain cancers. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at www.accesspharma.com.
This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include those relating to: clinical trial plans and timelines and clinical results for ProLindac and other product candidates, our ability to execute licensing agreements in the future, Access’ plans to continue and initiate clinical trials, the value of its products in the market (including MuGard and the size of the overall market for mucositis products), its ability to achieve clinical and commercial success and its ability to successfully develop marketed products. These statements are subject to numerous risks, including but not limited Access’ need to obtain additional financing in order to continue the clinical trial and operations and to the risks detailed in Access’ Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Access with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Stephen B. Thompson, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-214-905-5100; or Investor Relations,
Donald C. Weinberger or Diana Bittner (media), Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger
Assoc. LLC, +1-212-370-4500
Web site: http://www.accesspharma.com/
