Published: December 04, 2008
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. File Lawsuit Against Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. for Infringement of Testim(R) Patent


Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(NASDAQ: AUXL) and CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPEX) announced
today that they have filed a lawsuit against Upsher-Smith Laboratories,
Inc. (Upsher-Smith) for infringement of CPEX's U.S. Patent No. 7,320,968
("the '968 Patent"), which covers Testim®, 1% testosterone gel. The
lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Delaware.
The Companies filed this lawsuit under the Hatch-Waxman Act in response to
the notice from Upsher-Smith of its filing of an Abbreviated New Drug
Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
containing a Paragraph IV certification under 21 U.S.C. Section 355(j) for
testosterone gel. The Paragraph IV certification notice states that
Upsher-Smith does not believe that the testosterone gel product for which
it is seeking approval infringes the '968 Patent and that it would seek to
market its generic product before the expiration of the '968 Patent. The
'968 Patent is listed in Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic
Equivalence Evaluations (commonly known as the Orange Book), published by
the U.S. FDA, and will expire in January 2025. Auxilium and CPEX are
committed to protecting their intellectual property rights.
Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, final FDA approval of Upsher-Smith's proposed
generic product will be stayed until the earlier of 30 months or resolution
of the patent infringement lawsuit. Should Upsher-Smith receive a
tentative approval of its generic version of Testim from the FDA, it cannot
lawfully launch its generic version of Testim in the U.S. before the
earlier of the expiration of the currently pending 30-month stay or a
district court decision in its favor. Upsher-Smith will also not be able to
lawfully launch a generic version of Testim in the U.S. without the
necessary final approval from the FDA.
About Testim
Testim is a novel, topical gel formulation that normalizes low levels of
testosterone in men with hypogonadism, a condition that occurs when a man's
body does not produce adequate amounts of testosterone. Testim was
developed by Auxilium using a proprietary technology licensed from CPEX and
was launched in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2003. Auxilium received
its first European regulatory approval for Testim in the UK in 2003 and
currently has regulatory approval in 15 countries in Europe.
About Hypogonadism
A 2006 study that was published in The International Journal of Clinical
Practice showed 39% of men over 45 years of age have low testosterone
(total testosterone levels below 300 ng / dL). Hypogonadism is defined as
reduced or absent secretion of testosterone which can lead to symptoms such
as loss or decline of libido, decrease in energy, reduced muscle mass, an
increase in abdominal fat, decreased sexual function, anemia, fatigue,
depression, irritability, poor concentration, and reduced bone density that
may result in an increased risk of osteoporosi. Auxilium research estimates
that approximately 10% of men with hypogonadism currently receive
testosterone replacement therapy and that this low diagnosis rate stems
primarily from low patient and physician awareness of the symptoms,
treatment options and monitoring requirements.
About Auxilium
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical company
with a focus on developing and marketing to urologists, endocrinologists,
orthopedists and select primary care physicians. Auxilium markets
Testim® 1%, a topical testosterone gel, for the treatment of hypogonadism
through its approximately 190-person sales and marketing team. Auxilium
has five projects in clinical development. XIAFLEX(TM) (clostridial
collagenase for injection), formerly referred to as AA4500, is in phase
III of development for the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture and is in
phase II of development for the treatment of Peyronie's disease and Frozen
Shoulder syndrome (Adhesive Capsulitis). Auxilium's transmucosal film
product candidate for the treatment of overactive bladder (AA4010) is in
phase I of development. The Company is currently seeking a partner to
further develop this product candidate. Auxilium also has one pain product
(fentanyl) using its transmucosal film delivery system in phase I of
development. Auxilium has rights to seven additional pain products and
products for hormone replacement and urologic disease using its
transmucosal film delivery system. Auxilium also has options to all
indications using XIAFLEX for non-topical formulations. For additional
information, visit http://www.auxilium.com.
About CPEX Pharmaceuticals
CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPEX) is an emerging specialty
pharmaceutical company focused on the development, licensing and
commercialization of pharmaceutical products utilizing CPEX's validated
drug delivery platform technology. CPEX has U.S. and international patents
and other proprietary rights to technologies that facilitate the absorption
of drugs. CPEX has licensed applications of its proprietary CPE-215®
drug delivery technology to Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which launched
Testim®, a topical testosterone gel, in 2003. CPEX also is developing an
intranasal insulin product candidate, Nasulin(TM), which is in Phase II
clinical trials. CPEX maintains its headquarters in Exeter, NH. For more
information about CPEX, please visit www.cpexpharm.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995
Auxilium
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including without limitation, statements regarding: the number of men with
hypogonadism currently receiving testosterone replacement therapy, reasons
for the low diagnosis rate of hypogonadism; Auxilium's commitment to
protecting its intellectual property rights; and all others statements
containing projections, statements of future performance or expectations,
or statements of plans or objectives for future operations (including
statements of assumption underlying or relating to any of the foregoing).
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
future results expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that may
cause such differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated
with the following: the interpretation of market research, intellectual
property litigation, the unpredictability of patent protection, competition
from other products, and other risks and uncertainties detailed under "Risk
Factors" in Auxilium's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007 and in Auxilium's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
period ended September 30, 2008 which are on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release may prove to be
incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this
press release speak only as of the date of this document, and Auxilium
undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements.
Auxilium disclaims responsibility for statements above in "About CPEX
Pharmaceuticals," which were provided by CPEX for inclusion in this press
release.
CPEX
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements regarding the legal and regulatory options available
to defend U.S. Patent No. 7,320,968 and Testim and CPEX's intentions
regarding such options. These forward-looking statements are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from future results expressed or implied by such statements.
Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to,
risks associated with the following: intellectual property litigation, the
unpredictability of patent protection, competition from other products, and
other uncertainties detailed under "Risk Factors" in CPEX's Registration
Statement on Form 10 dated June 17, 2008 in connection with the
distribution of CPEX's common stock to stockholders of Bentley
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CPEX cautions investors not to place undue reliance
on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These
statements speak only as of the date of this document, and CPEX undertakes
no obligation to update or revise the statements, except as may be required
by law.
CPEX disclaims responsibility for statements above in "About Auxilium,"
which were provided by Auxilium for inclusion in this release.
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