Vernalis Confirms US Launch of Frova™
18 June 2002
Vernalis Group plc ('Vernalis' LSE: VER) today confirmed that the US launch of Frova™(frovatriptan succinate) and marketing to US neurologists and primary care physicians has now commenced.
Frova, the newest oral migraine treatment, is being marketed by UCB Pharma Inc (UCB) and Elan Corporation plc (Elan) for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. Salesforces targeting neurologists and primary care physicians are launching Frova simultaneously throughout the US. The overall triptan class, of which Frova is a member, accounted for approximately $1.4 billion in US sales in 2001, with oral triptans representing $1.2 billion.
The launch of Frova triggers a milestone payment to Vernalis in excess of $5 million from Elan.
Robert Mansfield, Chief Executive Officer, commented, The launch of Frova represents a significant advance for Vernalis following the successful completion of our comprehensive US and European development programme. This is the first of our products to reach the market and we can now anticipate the commencement of a continuing revenue stream from royalties on Frova sales.
The World Health Organisation has defined migraine as one of the top five disabling diseases in the world and it is estimated that approximately 10% of the US population experience migraine attacks. Recent studies have shown that seven out of ten migraine sufferers are dissatisfied with their current migraine therapy because the pain relief does not last 1. The average migraine lasts more than 24 hours 2 with an average range of 4-72 hours 3. Frova 2.5mg tablets have a 26-hour half-life and, may represent an important advancement in the treatment of migraine headache as no currently marketed triptan has a half-life of more than six hours. In clinical studies with Frova, patients' recurrence of migraine was consistently low.
Approximately 75% of migraine sufferers are women, and it is estimated that one third of those experience migraines associated with their menstrual period. Vernalis is currently conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study to assess the safety and efficacy of Frova in the prophylaxis (prevention) of menstrually associated migraine headaches.
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