Healthcare Industry News: psoriasis
News Release - March 6, 2007
Barrier Therapeutics Announces Agreement to Co-Promote Vusion(TM) Ointment to Pediatricians in the United States
PRINCETON, NJ--(Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network)--Mar 6, 2007 -- Barrier Therapeutics, Inc. (NasdaqGM:BTRX ), a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products in the field of dermatology, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. whereby Novartis Consumer Health will promote Barrier Therapeutics' Vusion(TM) (0.25% miconazole nitrate, 15% zinc oxide, 81.35% white petrolatum) Ointment to pediatricians in the U.S.Beginning in May 2007, Novartis Consumer Health will initiate promotion of Vusion Ointment to pediatricians, supplementing the efforts of Barrier Therapeutics' 60-person sales force. Under the agreement which runs through 2008, Barrier will pay Novartis a flat fee for each sales call made to a pediatrician. Responsibilities for the marketing and product strategy, as well as for the development, manufacture, distribution and sale of the product will remain with Barrier.
"We are delighted to have a quality organization like Novartis Consumer Health as our co-promotion partner on Vusion Ointment in the U.S.," said Al Altomari, Chief Operating Officer of Barrier Therapeutics. "We expect that adding the Novartis promotional efforts will more than double the promotional reach to pediatricians for this unique prescription product."
About Vusion Ointment and Diaper Dermatitis Complicated by Documented Candidiasis
Vusion Ointment is specifically formulated for the treatment of diaper dermatitis complicated by documented candidiasis (DDCC) in infants and children four weeks and older. This inflammatory condition occurs when diaper dermatitis, also known as diaper rash, is complicated with a fungal infection caused by yeast known as Candida. The existence of Candida is readily determined by microscopic evaluation for presence of pseudohyphae or budding yeast. Vusion Ointment is the only prescription product approved for the treatment of this condition in the U.S. There are approximately eight million infants under the age of two in the U.S., and it is estimated that diaper dermatitis is observed in approximately one million pediatric outpatient visits each year. Of the diaper dermatitis cases treated by physicians, it is estimated that more than 40 percent are complicated by the yeast Candida. Until the FDA approved Vusion Ointment, common treatment options included only the use of antifungal products, steroids, and combination products not specifically approved for the treatment of DDCC or for use on infants.
For full prescribing information on Vusion Ointment, please visit the product website: www.vusionointment.com.
About Barrier Therapeutics
Barrier Therapeutics, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products in the field of dermatology. Barrier Therapeutics currently markets three pharmaceutical products in the United States: Xolegel(TM) (ketoconazole, USP) Gel, 2%, for seborrheic dermatitis; Vusion(TM) (0.25% miconazole nitrate, 15% zinc oxide, 81.35% white petrolatum) Ointment, for diaper dermatitis complicated by documented candidiasis; and Solagé® (mequinol 2.0%, tretinoin 0.01%) Topical Solution, for solar lentigines. Barrier Therapeutics has other product candidates in various stages of clinical development for the treatment of a range of dermatological conditions, including acne, psoriasis, onychomycosis and other fungal infections of the skin. The company is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey and has wholly owned subsidiaries in Geel, Belgium and Ontario, Canada. More information about Barrier Therapeutics can be found on its corporate website at: www.barriertherapeutics.com.
Xolegel, Vusion and Solagé are trademarks of Barrier Therapeutics, Inc.
Safe Harbor Statement
In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the anticipated promotional reach for Vusion Ointment. Forward-looking statements provide Barrier's current expectations or forecasts of future events. Barrier's performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to the ability of both Barrier Therapeutics and Novartis Consumer Health to deploy and maintain the anticipated number of sales representatives, the marketplace acceptance of Barrier's products, Barrier's ability to execute its commercial and clinical strategy, the decisions of regulatory authorities, the results of clinical trials and strategic decisions regarding its pipeline, general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries generally. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that may effect the forward-looking statements, please see the risk factors in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Barrier undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement.
Source: Barrier Therapeutics
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