euro adhoc: MediGene AG
MediGene's First Drug Eligard® Is Launched
(E)
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Martinsried - San Diego, May 4, 2004. Eligard®, the first drug of the German-American biotechnology company MediGene AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG), is available in German pharmacies today. With the launch of the prescription drug to treat advanced prostate cancer, MediGene becomes the first German biotech company with a drug on the market. The Japanese pharmaceuticals group Yamanouchi takes over the commercialization of Eligard®. Yamanouchi is the second largest pharmaceuticals company in Europe in the field of urology, and the market leader in the field of benign hyperplasia. In Germany, more than 120 medical representatives nationwide will promote Eligard® with urologists. Upon launch, MediGene receives a milestone payment from Yamanouchi. In addition, MediGene will receive royalties on sales of Eligard®.
By the end of this year, marketing authorization applications shall be submitted for Eligard® in other European countries. MediGene acquired the license for pan-European commercialization of Eligard® from the US Company Atrix Laboratories, Inc. in April 2001, and has successfully taken both the one-month and the three-months products through the approval procedure. For this purpose, MediGene adapted the US marketing dossier to the requirements of the German regulatory authorities and supplemented the clinical data with additional preclinical studies. MediGene and Yamanouchi also hold the licenses for the 4-months and 6-months products of Eligard®.
Eligard® is an LH-RH agonist (LH-RH = luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) which significantly and consistently reduces the testosterone level in the body, thus suppressing tumor growth in patients suffering from advanced, hormone-dependent prostate cancer (palliative therapy). Liquid Eligard® is injected subcutaneously into the patient where it forms a solid depot, slowly and steadily releasing the drug, while the biodegradable depot disintegrates. The clinical trials have shown that Eligard® is safe, well tolerated and efficient.
Contact
MediGene AG Email: investor@medigene.com Fax: ++49 - 89 - 85 65- 2920
Julia Hofmann, Public Relations Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65- 3324
Dr. Michael Nettersheim, Investor Relations Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65- 2946
end of announcement euro adhoc 04.05.2004
Further inquiry note:
Julia Hofmann
Tel.: +49 (0)89 8565 3324
E-mail: j.hofmann@medigene.com
Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE0005020903
WKN: 502090
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Prime Standard, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing
Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover / free trade
Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Original content of: Medigene AG, transmitted by news aktuell