GERMANTOWN, Md., July 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation , a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel anti-infective products, today announced the commercial launch of Keflex 750mg capsules. The new strength of Keflex allows health care professionals the flexibility to deliver higher doses of Keflex with fewer capsules per day. Keflex 750mg capsules have been manufactured, packaged, and are currently being distributed to pharmacies nationwide in bottles of 50.
“With the availability of Keflex 750mg capsules, physicians and other health care professionals will be able to deliver a total daily dose of Keflex with fewer capsules per day,” said Edward M. Rudnic, Ph.D., president and CEO of Advancis. “With pharmacy distribution underway, our sales force will begin promoting Keflex 750mg capsules to high volume prescribers across the United States.”
Advancis has deployed 83 field-based sales personnel, including 75 sales representatives and eight district sales managers, fully dedicated to the promotion of Keflex 750mg. Sales representatives from Advancis have been presenting Keflex 750mg to pharmacists and pharmaceutical distributors since July 17, 2006.
Advancis’ sales representatives are expected to begin directly promoting Keflex 750mg to targeted physicians as well as providing patient starter samples later this week. The Company expects to see measurable Keflex 750mg prescription volume beginning the week of July 31, 2006. Advancis’ sales force territories cover zip codes from which more than 80% of all cephalexin market prescriptions are generated. Advancis will augment its sales force efforts with advertising, direct mail, and telemarketing.
Advancis acquired the rights to manufacture, market, and sell Keflex in the United States in July of 2004. Cephalexin is the third most prescribed outpatient antibiotic in the United States, with more than 25 million prescriptions written annually. Keflex is the number-one most prescribed oral cephalosporin antibiotic and is also the number-one recommended oral antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections. Advancis received approval for introduction of the Keflex 750mg capsules in May, 2006.
About Keflex:
Keflex(R) Capsules (Cephalexin, USP) is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic shown to be active against strains of both gram-positive and gram- negative aerobes in vitro and in clinical infections. Keflex is indicated for treatment of the following infections: respiratory tract infections, otitis media, skin and skin structure infections, bone infections, and genitourinary tract infections. Keflex is currently available in 250mg capsules, 500mg capsules, and powder for oral suspension. Keflex is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to the cephalosporin group of antibiotics. Before therapy with cephalexin is instituted, careful inquiry should be made to determine whether the patient has had previous hypersensitivity reactions to cephalexin, cephalosporins, penicillins, or other drugs. Keflex should be administered with caution in the presence of markedly impaired renal function or a history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis. More information on Keflex and prescribing information are available at http://www.keflex.com
ABOUT ADVANCIS PHARMACEUTICAL:
Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of pulsatile drug products that fulfill substantial unmet medical needs in the treatment of infectious disease. The Company is developing a portfolio of anti-infective drugs based on its novel biological finding that bacteria exposed to antibiotics in frontloaded staccato bursts, or “pulses,” are killed more efficiently and effectively than those under standard treatment regimens. Based on this finding, Advancis has developed a proprietary, once-a-day pulsatile delivery technology called PULSYS. By examining the resistance patterns of bacteria and applying its delivery technologies, Advancis has the potential to redefine infectious disease therapy and significantly improve drug efficacy, shorten length of therapy, and reduce drug resistance versus currently available antibacterial products. For more on Advancis, please visit http://www.advancispharm.com.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on Advancis’ current expectations and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that would cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The words, “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “hope,” and variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Statements in this announcement that are forward- looking include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s future development plans, clinical trials, and financial results. The actual results realized by Advancis could differ materially from these forward-looking statements, depending in particular upon the risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s financial results and the ability of the Company to (1) reach profitability, (2) prove that the preliminary findings for its product candidates are valid, (3) receive required regulatory approvals, (4) successfully conduct clinical trials in a timely manner, (5) establish its competitive position for its products, (6) develop and commercialize products that are superior to existing or newly developed competitor products, (7) develop products without any defects, (8) have sufficient capital resources to fund its operations, (9) protect its intellectual property rights and patents, (10) implement its sales and marketing strategy, (11) successfully attract and retain collaborative partners, (12) successfully develop, commercialize, and receive market acceptance of its Keflex products, and (13) retain its senior management and other personnel. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today’s date. Advancis undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation
CONTACT: Robert Bannon, Senior Director, Investor Relations, of AdvancisPharmaceutical Corporation, +1-301-944-6710, ir@advancispharm.com
