March 25, 2010
Hisamitsu Announces U.S. Launch of its “Fentanyl Transdermal System” for
the Management of Chronic Pain
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. (Head Office: Tosu, Saga; President:
Hirotaka Nakatomi; hereinafter “Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical”) announces that on March 24, 2010 (local time in U.S.) Apotex Corp. (Head Office: Florida, U.S.; Chief Commercial Officer:Jeff Watson; hereinafter “Apotex”) launched Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical’s “Fentanyl Transdermal System” for the management of chronic pain, which was approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) on October 16, 2009 (local time in U.S.).
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical transferred the business of the Fentanyl Transdermal System to its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Noven
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (hereinafter “Noven”), on December 31, 2009, and Apotex distributes the drug exclusively in the U.S.
Through the distribution of the Fentanyl Transdermal System, Hisamitsu and Apotex will provide patients who suffer from chronic pain with a high quality treatment option for the improvement of Quality of Life.
About Fentanyl Transdermal System
The Fentanyl Transdermal System, developed by Hisamitsu, is a 72-hour matrix type transdermal patch containing Fentanyl, indicated for management of persistent moderate to severe pain. Annual sales for the
total transdermal Fentanyl patch market in the U.S. (the targeted market for Hisamitsu’s Fentanyl Transdermal System) were approximately $1.1 billion in 2009.
About Apotex
Apotex Corp. is a subsidiary of Apotex Inc. Apotex has over 6500 employees worldwide and produces over 300 medicines in 4000 dosages in
21 facilities across North America. Apotex is one of the top 10 generic companies in the U.S. and plans to spend $2 billion in research and
development over the next 10 years. It presently has 600 products in
development and produces quality, affordable medicines for healthcare systems in 115 countries.
Summary of Consolidated Subsidiaries
【
Hisamitsu US】
(
1)Trade name
Hisamitsu U.S, Inc.
(
2)Representative
Kosuke Sugiyama
(
3)Location
Kent, Delaware, USA
(
4)Founded
2009
(
5)Main business
Holding company
(
6)Fiscal year ending
December
(
7)Major shareholders and percentage of ownership
Owned 100% by our Company
【
Noven】
(
1)Trade name
Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(
2)Representative
Jeffrey F. Eisenberg
(
3)Location
Miami, Florida, USA
(
4)Founded
1987
(
5)Main business
Development, manufacture and sale of ethical pharmaceutical products
(
6)Fiscal year ending
December
(
7)Major shareholders and percentage of ownership
Owned 100% by our Company