Misoprostol Symposium

30 Sep 2005 07:03

Alliance Pharma PLC30 September 2005 For Immediate Release 30 September 2005 ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC ("Alliance" or "the Company") Misoprostol is focus of Cairo symposium Alliance Pharma plc (AIM: APH), the emerging speciality pharmaceutical company,is pleased to announce that it sponsored a one-day symposium on misoprostol, thesynthetic prostaglandin analogue, at this week's 6th International ScientificMeeting of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Cairo,Egypt, which was attended by more than 1800 delegates. The symposium, titled Misoprostol: New Horizons in Maternal Health, includedpapers and discussions on the history of misoprostol in obstetrics, the evidencebehind its efficacy and safety and its dosage selection. Three of the paperswere delivered by members of Alliance Pharma's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The symposium was chaired by Dr Hazem El Refaey, consultant obstetrician andgynaecologist and senior lecturer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital andImperial College School of Medicine, London, and by Professor Charles Rodeck,professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at University College, London. Dr El Refaey, who has been studying the obstetric applications of misoprostolsince the early 1990s, commented that the profession was encouraged thatAlliance Pharma had taken on the development of misoprostol for induction oflabour and that its availability was eagerly awaited. Alliance Pharma is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials ofIsprelor(TM), its misoprostol 25 mcg vaginal tablets for the induction oflabour, in a study of more than 1000 patients in which the drug is compared withdinoprostone, the current standard treatment. Isprelor is expected to be ready for launch during 2006. Across Europe there areapproximately 700,000 induced births a year and the market is currentlyestimated to have an annual value of £13 million. Misoprostol was launched in the late 1980s as an anti-ulcerant but it was soonnoted that the drug caused uterine contractions in pregnant women. The RoyalCollege of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists called for the development of amisoprostol product suitable for obstetric use in 2001. Commenting on the symposium, John Dawson, Alliance Pharma's Chief Executive,said: "Our symposium here in Cairo has been an outstanding success. Thepresentations, given by international leaders in the field of obstetrics,created a great deal of interest. Additionally, the event has firmlyestablished Alliance Pharma's name with this key audience as we move towardscommercialisation of Isprelor." For further information: Alliance Pharma plc + 44 (0) 1249 466966John Dawson, Chief ExecutiveMaddy Scott, Finance Directorwww.alliancepharma.co.uk Buchanan Communications + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000Mark Court/Lisa Baderoon/Rebecca Skye Dietrich Notes to editors About Alliance Pharma Alliance Pharma, founded in 1996, is an AIM listed emerging specialitypharmaceutical company based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK. The company has astrong track record of acquiring the rights to established niche brands andowns, or shares, the rights to 30 branded pharmaceutical products and continuesto explore opportunities to expand the range. Alliance Pharma's products are prescribed in the treatment of a wide range ofconditions and include brands used in periodontitis (a serious gum disease), theprevention of heart disease, in Parkinson's disease, in nutrition, in nasalinfections, in the treatment of dermatological conditions and in childbirth.Alliance Pharma's sales are mainly prescription driven. Its products aredistributed to hospitals directly and to pharmaceutical wholesalers whichservice both hospital and retail pharmacies with their prescriptionrequirements. Alliance Pharma is also developing novel products for sleep disorders and theinduction of labour. Alliance Pharma joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in December2003 and trades under the symbol APH. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange