PartneringProducts
Almirall signs a co-marketing agreement with Recordati for the marketing of silodosin in Spain, a new compound for benign prostatic hyperplasia
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The agreement will enable Almirall to further strengthen its core business over the next few years.
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The medicine blocks alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the prostate, bladder and urethra to reduce prostate enlargement symptoms.
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The affliction has a high social impact. By the age of about 60 over 50% of men suffer from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and between the ages of 70 and 80 up to 90% experience some of the symptoms.
Barcelona, 3 April 2009.- Almirall, the international pharmaceutical company based in Spain, has signed a co-marketing agreement with Recordati, by virtue of which Recordati grants Almirall marketing rights in Spain of silodosin, a new compound for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The medicine will also be marketed in Spain by Recordati España. The agreement enables Almirall to strengthen its core business in the coming years and enhance its product portfolio in the urology area.
"We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with Recordati, and are convinced that by incorporating silodosin into our product portfolio we will enhance our urology area while offering an efficient solution to improve quality of life for BPH sufferers; an affliction with a social impact affecting a high percentage of men in Spain", stated Jorge Gallardo, Chairman-Chief Executive Officer of Almirall.
Registration approval in Europe is expected in the first half of 2010.
Silodosin: an effective solution to BPH
Silodosin blocks alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the prostate, bladder and urethra to reduce prostate enlargement symptoms. It is administered through a capsule taken once a day.
The FDA, the maximum health authority in North America, approved silodosin in 2008 for the treatment of BPH symptoms. It was submitted for approval in Europe in November 2008.
The drug has been marketed in Japan since May 2006 by Kissei where it obtained a market share there of 20% in December 2008. In Europe and in other countries in Africa and the Middle East, silodosin is being marketed by Recordati, with collaboration by other pharmaceutical companies through co-marketing agreements like the one with Almirall in Spain.
About BPH (1)
Benign prostate hyperplasia is a nonmalignant (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate. Enlargement of the prostate gland is caused by a relative increase of oestrogens (female hormones) over testosterone (male hormone), which occurs in ageing men.
When the prostate is enlarged it can progressively compress the urethra and cause difficulties in urinating. This occurs because compression impedes the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra and to the outside. Possible consequences are urine retention in the bladder or urine flowing to the kidneys and the need to urinate frequently. If the inflammation is serious it can completely block the urinary system.
BPH is a very common disease among men: although it usually starts from the age of around 30, it rarely shows before the age of 40. By 60, fifty percent of men suffer from BPH and between 70 and 80 up to 90% experience some of the symptoms.
About Almirall
Almirall, an international pharmaceutical company based on innovation and committed to health, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, researches, develops, manufactures and commercialises its own R&D and licensed drugs with the aim of improving people's health and wellbeing.
The therapeutic areas on which Almirall focuses its research resources are related to the treatment of asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and dermatology in general.
Almirall's products are currently present in over 70 countries while it has direct presence in Europe and Latin America through 11 affiliates.
(1) Source: Institute of Advanced Urologic Surgery
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Press release