SuperGen Acquires European Marketing Authorizations for Nipent(R) from Pfizer
February 24 2004 - 9:28AM
PR Newswire (US)
SuperGen Acquires European Marketing Authorizations for Nipent(R)
from Pfizer DUBLIN, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
SuperGen Inc. today announced that it has acquired European
marketing authorizations to the anticancer compound Nipent(R)
(pentostatin for injection) from Pfizer Inc. and plans to retain
the exclusive European distributor for Nipent for the near term.
Nipent is currently approved as a single-agent treatment for
patients with hairy cell leukemia and under investigational study
for a number of hematological malignancies. Terms of the
transaction were not disclosed. In 1996, SuperGen purchased
domestic distribution and marketing rights to Nipent from the
Warner-Lambert Company, which was later acquired by Pfizer. "As a
result of this transaction with Pfizer, we are now able to drive
Nipent commercialization globally, outside of Japan," said Edward
Jacobs, Chief Operating Officer of SuperGen. "Although our European
affiliate, EuroGen Pharmaceuticals Ltd., has been in existence for
several years, the acquisition of these rights marks the true
beginning of our commercial activity in Europe. We anticipate
revenue to be generated by EuroGen products in 2004." SuperGen is
currently conducting clinical studies using Nipent as a treatment
for several hematological malignancies, including graft-versus-host
disease (an often-fatal syndrome wherein immune cells from the
transplant donor reject the recipient's normal tissue following an
allogeneic transplant), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic
lymphocytic leukemia. Based in Dublin, California, SuperGen is a
pharmaceutical company dedicated to the acquisition, rapid
development and commercialization of therapeutic anticancer
products. The company's website can be reached at
http://www.supergen.com/. This press release contains
"forward-looking" statements within the meaning of section 21A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject to
thesafe harbor created thereby. Such forward-looking statements
include statements related to our expectations regarding Nipent as
a single agent and in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs
in the treatment of various hematological conditions. The success
of such product could differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risk
factors and uncertainties. Such factors include, but are not
limited to: risks and uncertainties related to initiating,
conducting and completing larger clinical trials in patients,
reduced intensity of allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients
with MDS, whether Nipent will demonstrate any clinical benefit in
any future study of these patients, and whether thecompany will
submit or receive regulatory approval for Nipent for this
indication. References made to the discussion of the risk factors
are detailed in the company's filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission including the report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2003. These forward-looking statements
are made only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation
to update or revise the information contained in any such
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Contact: Tim Enns, Vice President,
Investor Relations & Business Development, SuperGen Inc.,
800-353-1075, ext. 111 DATASOURCE: SuperGen Inc. CONTACT: Tim Enns,
Vice President, Investor Relations& Business Development,
SuperGen, Inc., +1-800-353-1075, ext. 111 Web site:
http://www.supergen.com/
Copyright