LAVAL, QC, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Labopharm Inc. today provided an update on the roll out of its once-daily tramadol product across Europe.
Italy and Spain - Labopharm’s once-daily tramadol product was launched in December in Italy under the brand name Unitrama(R) by the Company’s marketing partner for that country, Gruppo Angelini. In Spain, the Company’s marketing partner, Esteve, launched the product the first week in January under the brand name Dolpar.
United Kingdom - Labopharm’s marketing partner Recordati, plans to launch the product this week under the brand name Tradorec XL. The U.K. is the third largest European market for tramadol products by dollar value.
France and Belgium - Labopharm’s marketing partners for France, sanofi-aventis and Grunenthal GmbH, have scheduled marketing meetings in the coming weeks in preparation to launch the product in February. Sanofi-aventis will market the product under the brand name, Monoalgic L.P and Grunenthal under the brand name, Monotramal L.P. Grunenthal GmbH, also the Company’s partner in Belgium, will launch Labopharm’s once-daily tramadol in Belgium under the brand name Contramal Uno(R) at the end of January.
“With once-daily tramadol now launched in Germany, the U.K., Italy and Spain, and imminent launches in France and Belgium, our product will be actively marketed across the majority of the European market for tramadol products,” said James R. Howard-Tripp, President and Chief Executive Officer, Labopharm Inc. “We will continue to pursue our plan for the global commercialization of our once-daily tramadol product throughout 2007, which will include additional European launches and initial launches in Mexico and South America.”
Labopharm Files Marketing Application in Australia
Labopharm also announced that it has submitted a marketing application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of the Australian government’s Department of Health and Aging, seeking regulatory approval to permit its once-daily tramadol product to be marketed in that country. The Company is leveraging regulatory approval of its once-daily tramadol product in France to facilitate the regulatory approval process in Australia. Labopharm is in active discussions to secure a marketing partner for Australia.
About Labopharm Inc.
Labopharm Inc. is an international specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of drugs incorporating the Company’s proprietary advanced controlled-release technologies. The Company’s lead product, a once-daily formulation of the analgesic tramadol, has been approved and launched in Europe and is currently under review for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, please visit www.labopharm.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws, including statements concerning the Company’s roll out of its once-daily tramadol product across Europe, the Company’s plans for additional European launches and initial launches in Mexico and South America and the Company’s filing of a marketing application in Australia for its once-daily tramadol product, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things: uncertainties related to market acceptance in these new markets, uncertainties related to the regulatory process, including regulatory approval, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Labopharm Inc.
CONTACT: At Labopharm: Mark D’Souza, Chief Financial Officer, Tel: (450)680-2444, mdsouza@labopharm.com; At The Equicom Group: Jason Hogan, Mediaand Investor Relations, Tel: (416) 815-0700, jhogan@equicomgroup.com;French: Eric Bouchard, Tel: (514) 208-5939, ebouchard@equicomgroup.com