Alexza Pharmaceuticals Announces Ferrer's Launch of ADASUVE® (Staccato® Loxapine) in Spain Triggering a $1 Million Milestone Payment
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXA) today announced that ADASUVE® inhalation powder, pre-dispensed (Staccato® loxapine) is now available in Spain through Grupo Ferrer Internacional, S.A. (Ferrer). Ferrer is Alexza's commercial partner for ADASUVE in the European Union (EU), Latin America, Russia and the CIS countries. In conjunction with this commercial introduction of ADASUVE in Spain by Ferrer, Alexza will receive a milestone payment of $1 million.
"Given that Ferrer is one of the largest Spanish pharmaceutical companies, launching ADASUVE in our home market is an important milestone," said Antoni Villaro, Chief Operating Officer of Ferrer. "We expect to demonstrate Ferrer's commitment to commercial excellence and hope to serve as a reference for all other markets."
"Ferrer has consistently demonstrated a high degree of focus, commitment and collaboration in introducing ADASUVE to physicians who are seeking new therapeutic options for the treatment of agitation associated with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia," said Thomas B. King, President and CEO of Alexza. "With the launch of ADASUVE in Spain, we are pleased with how Ferrer is continuing to execute on its planned commercial launch across Europe."
Alexza received marketing authorization for ADASUVE from the European Commission in February 2013. ADASUVE is the first inhalation therapy for the rapid control of mild-to-moderate agitation in adult patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder authorized for marketing in the EU. Alexza and Ferrer estimate that as many as 8 million adults in the EU suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder1. Agitation is a common symptom for these patients2, characterized by feelings of distress, anxiety and loss of control. The marketing authorization for ADASUVE requires that patients receive regular treatment immediately after control of acute agitation symptoms. It also requires that ADASUVE be administered only in a hospital setting under the supervision of a healthcare professional and that short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator treatment should be available for treatment of possible severe respiratory side-effects, such as bronchospasm.
Alexza and Ferrer established a collaboration agreement in October 2011. Under the terms of this agreement, Alexza is the exclusive supplier of ADASUVE and is responsible for all aspects of manufacture of the product. Ferrer is responsible for commercial activities and is expected to launch ADASUVE in additional EU countries throughout 2014.
About ADASUVE (Staccato loxapine) ADASUVE combines Alexza's proprietary Staccato system with loxapine, an antipsychotic medicinal product. The Staccato system is a hand-held inhaler that delivers a drug aerosol to the deep lung that results in intravenous-like pharmacokinetics and rapid systemic effects.
ADASUVE has been approved for marketing in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and in the EU by the European Commission. The authorization for ADASUVE in the EU differs from that in the U.S., with respect to the indication statement, dose regimen, available dose strengths, and risk mitigation and management plans.
For more information about ADASUVE, including the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet approved in the EU, please visit: www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/002400/human_med_001618.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124. For the full prescribing information including boxed warnings for the U.S., please visit www.adasuve.com.
About Ferrer Founded in 1959, Ferrer is a privately-held European R&D-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Barcelona. It is active in the pharmaceutical, health, fine chemicals and food sectors in Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the United States. In total, Ferrer's human healthcare products are commercialized in more than 90 countries, through 27 international affiliates (including joint ventures) and 70 partners and distributors.
Ferrer carries out activities throughout the full pharmaceutical value chain, from R&D to international marketing, including fine chemical development and the manufacturing of both raw materials and finished pharmaceuticals. Its research centers in Spain and Germany, and manufacturing sites in Europe and Latin America cover the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, vaccine, fine chemical, food and feed sectors.
Ferrer is Alexza's commercial partner for ADASUVE in Europe, Latin America, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries.
For more information, visit www.ferrergrupo.com
About Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Alexza Pharmaceuticals is focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel, proprietary products for the acute treatment of central nervous system conditions. Alexza's products are based on the Staccato system, a hand-held inhaler designed to deliver a drug aerosol to the deep lung, providing rapid systemic delivery and therapeutic onset, in a simple, non-invasive manner.
ADASUVE (Staccato loxapine) is Alexza's first commercial product, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2012 and by the European Commission in February 2013. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. is Alexza's commercial partner for ADASUVE in the U.S. Grupo Ferrer Internacional, S.A. is Alexza's commercial partner for ADASUVE in Europe, Latin America, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries.
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