Published: February 13, 2012
Pharming and Transmedic announce distribution agreement for RUCONEST
Biotech company Pharming Group NV
("Pharming" or "the Company") (NYSE Euronext: PHARM) announced today that
it has
entered into an agreement with Transmedic Pte Ltd. (Transmedic), a
privately
owned Singapore based specialty healthcare company, for the
commercialization of
RUCONEST(®) (recombinant human C1 inhibitor) for the treatment of
acute attacks
of Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) in parts of South- East Asia. The South-
East
Asian territories covered under this agreement include Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Under the agreement, Transmedic will drive the respective regulatory
approvals
and purchase its commercial supplies of RUCONEST from Pharming at a fixed
transfer price.
Sijmen de Vries, CEO of Pharming, commented: "We are pleased to have taken
another step towards making RUCONEST, an innovative, highly effective and
safe
replacement therapy, available to HAE patients globally. In Transmedic we
have
found an experienced commercialization partner dedicated to bringing
innovative
specialty medicines to this region. Transmedic's proven ability to cater
for
specialty medical care in hospitals provides an excellent platform from
which
RUCONEST can be made available to doctors and HAE patients in these
countries."
Teo Kee Meng, Managing Director of Transmedic, said: "Being able to add
RUCONEST
to our portfolio is another example of our continuous drive to bring the
most
innovative products in specialty medicine, to fulfill the unmet medical
needs
for patients and doctors, into our rapidly developing region; we are very
excited about the potential of RUCONEST in HAE and the future indications
that
RUCONEST may be developed for."
About RUCONEST (RHUCIN in non-European territories) and Hereditary
Angioedema
RUCONEST(®) (INN conestat alfa) is a recombinant version of the human
protein C1
inhibitor (C1INH). RUCONEST is produced through Pharming's proprietary
technology in milk of transgenic rabbits and in Europe is approved under
the
name RUCONEST( )for treatment of acute angioedema attacks in patients with
HAE.
RHUCIN(®) is an investigational drug in the U.S. and has been granted
orphan
drug designation for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE, a genetic
disorder
in which the patient is deficient in or lacks a functional plasma protein
C1
inhibitor, resulting in unpredictable and debilitating episodes of intense
swelling of the extremities, face, trunk, genitals, abdomen and upper
airway.
The frequency and severity of HAE attacks vary and are most serious when
they
involve laryngeal edema, which can close the upper airway and cause death
by
asphyxiation. According to the U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association,
epidemiological estimates for HAE range from one in 10,000 to one in 50,000
individuals.
About Pharming Group NV
Pharming Group NV is developing innovative products for the treatment of
unmet
medical needs. RUCONEST® (RHUCIN® in non-European territories) is
a recombinant
human C1 inhibitor approved for the treatment of angioedema attacks in
patients
with HAE in all 27 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and
is
distributed in the EU by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (OMX: SOBI).
RHUCIN(®) is
partnered with Santarus, Inc (NASDAQ: SNTS) in North America where the drug
is
undergoing Phase III clinical development. The product is also being
evaluated
for follow-on indications in the areas of transplantation and reperfusion
injury. The advanced technologies of the Company include innovative and
validated platforms for the production of protein therapeutics, technology
and
processes for the purification and formulation of these products. Recently
a new
project, using the validated transgenic rabbit platform, aimed at the
development of recombinant Factor VIII for the treatment of Haemophilia A
was
initiated was initiated by partner, Renova Life, Inc. Additional
information is
available on the Pharming website, www.pharming.com.
About Transmedic Pte Ltd
Transmedic Pte Ltd was established in 1980 and has close to 30 years of
valuable
industry experience, in-depth knowledge & skills in the field of cutting-
edge
medical technologies and healthcare treatment.
Today, Transmedic is a leading medical specialty partner of world-class
healthcare institutions and professionals in Southeast Asia. With its
headquarters in Singapore, branch offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia,
Hong
Kong & Philippines, and sub-distributors in Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei &
Pakistan, Transmedic has a comprehensive regional network for the most
strategic
approach to effectively distributing specialty medical devices and
specialty
medicine. For more information, please visit http://www.transmedic.com.sg.
This press release contains forward looking statements that involve known
and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different
from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these
forward looking statements.
Press release (PDF):
http://hugin.info/132866/R/1585287/496278.pdf
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Pharming Group N.V. via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1585287]
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