Ferring Pharmaceuticals' EUFLEXXA(TM) to Serve as Sponsor for Sprint Force America Masters Track Club

PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced that its hyaluronic acid (HA) therapy, EUFLEXXA(TM) (1% sodium hyaluronate), will serve as the sponsor for masters track club Sprint Force America.

"Sprint Force America exemplifies a commitment to active aging," said Alex Drigan, Product Director, EUFLEXXA(TM). "We support this team's dedication to the sport of track and believe that they can inspire others who want to continue doing what they love, regardless of age."

Renowned for their successes in the arena of masters track, Sprint Force America is based inNew York and is comprised of male sprinters aged 40-79. The club competes at many national events, including the Penn Relays, the Summer National Senior Games, and the United States Track and Field masters nationals, as well as at international championships.

"We are thankful to EUFLEXXA(TM) for this amazing sponsorship," said Ed Gonera, President and Co-Founder of Sprint Force America. "As a team, we have never believed that age had to affect our ability to compete and we appreciate that our new sponsor supports us in our mission to prove that to the rest of the world."

About EUFLEXXA(TM)

EUFLEXXA(TM) (1% sodium hyaluronate) is the first and only non-avian derived hyaluronic acid approved in the U.S. for the treatment of pain caused by knee osteoarthritis and continues to be the fastest growing brand of HA on the market.(1) EUFLEXXA(TM) is indicated for a three-injection treatment regimen for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative non-pharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen). In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, head-to-head study versus the market leading HA therapy, significantly more patients were "pain-free" and "symptom-free" with EUFLEXXA(TM).(2)

The process used to manufacture EUFLEXXA(TM) produces the HA that most closely resembles the HA in healthy human synovial fluid and the most highly purified HA product available today. In addition, since it is not derived from an avian source (chicken or rooster combs), the risk of reactions related to avian proteins is eliminated.(3-8)

EUFLEXXA(TM) received PMA approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 3, 2004, and became available to the public on November 8, 2005. For more information, visit www.EUFLEXXA.com.

(1) IMS National Sales Perspective Data, February 2008

(2) Kirchner M, Marshall D. A double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing alternate forms of high molecular weight hyaluronan for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2006; 14:154-162.

(3) Schiavinato A, Finesso M, Cortivo R, & Abatangelo G. Comparison of the effects of intra-articular injections of Hyaluronan and its chemically cross-linked derivative (Hylan G-F20) in normal rabbit knee joints. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2002; 20: 445-454.

(4) Goomer RS, Leslie K, Maris T, & Amiel D. Native hyaluronan produces less hypersensitivity than cross-linked hyaluronan. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005; 434: 239-245.

(5) Leopold SS, Warme WJ, Pettis PD, & Shott S. Increased frequency of acute local reaction to intra-articular hylan GF-20 (synvisc) in patients receiving more than one course of treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002; 84-A: 1619-1623.

(6) Puttick MP, Wade JP, Chalmers A, Connell DG, & Rangno KK. Acute local reactions after intraarticular hylan for osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol. 1995; 22: 1311-1314.

(7) Pullman-Mooar S, Mooar P, Sieck M, Clayburne G, & Schumacher HR. Are there distinctive inflammatory flares after hylan g-f 20 intraarticular injections? J Rheumatol. 2002; 29: 2611-2614.

(8) Chen AL, Desai P, Adler EM, & Di Cesare PE. Granulomatous inflammation after Hylan G-F 20 viscosupplementation of the knee: a report of six cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002; 84-A: 1142-1147.

SOURCE Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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