If this is not your name, click here.
| | If this is not your name, click here. | | |
| | Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague | | |
| |  Prosorba Column Launched in Europe for Rheumatoid Arthritis LISBON, PORTUGAL -- April 10, 2000 -- Cypress Bioscience Inc. and Fresenius HemoCare GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany, jointly announced the European launch of the Prosorba(R) column treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Speaking at a special Symposium on the Prosorba column at the International Society for Rheumatic Therapies (ISRT), Cypress and Fresenius reported that registration of the Prosorba treatment system has been completed, thereby permitting the sale of the product in Europe. In addition to the Prosorba column, the treatment system includes the Fresenius Cell Separator and Leukocyte Filter, and the disposables necessary to use these products with the Prosorba column. Fresenius HemoCare is the sole European marketer and distributor of the Prosorba column. Rainer Baule, chief operating officer of Fresenius HemoCare, said, "Fresenius HemoCare Adsorber Technology GmbH, in partnership with Cypress Bioscience, is preparing extensively for the European launch, and will introduce the Prosorba column system in multiple European countries over the next few months." Initially, the product will be launched in France, Italy and Germany. "As in the United States, we expect that availability of this exciting new therapy to be a boon for European patients with difficult to treat RA," Mr. Baule added. In a symposium at the ISRT, leading rheumatologists involved in clinical trials with the Prosorba column discussed Immunoadsorption, the process by which harmful substances can be removed from the blood, and its applications in rheumatology. R. Michael Gendreau, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer and chief medical officer for Cypress Bioscience Inc., also provided a clinical update on data gathered on patients since the product became commercially available one year ago in the United States. Overall, 75 percent of patients who had completed seven or more treatments of the total 12-week treatment course responded to treatment. There was no difference in response rate noted between those patients who had a history of having failed one of the new "TNF blocker" drugs such as Enbrel(R) (manufactured by Immunex and distributed by Wyeth-Ayerst, a division of American Home Products) and those with no previous experience with "TNF blockers." Cypress Bioscience Inc. markets the Prosorba column for types of rheumatoid arthritis and idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura ("ITP"), which are types of immune disorders, and is engaged in the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of blood platelet disorders. In March 1999, the company entered into an agreement that granted Fresenius AG and Fresenius Hemotechnology Inc. an exclusive license to manufacture and distribute the Prosorba column in the U.S., Europe and certain other territories. In April 1999, Cypress and Fresenius launched sale of the Prosorba column for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. In March 2000, the company entered into an agreement with Medexus, to market the Prosorba column in Canada. The Prosorba column was previously cleared by the FDA in 1987 for use in ITP, an immune bleeding disorder. In addition, Cypress is developing Cyplex(TM) (Infusible Platelet Membranes), which is positioned to become an alternative for traditional platelet infusions. Fresenius HemoCare -- a company of the Fresenius Group -- is one of Europe's leading companies in blood treatment and infusion technology. Fresenius HemoCare products and services are used in blood donation and separation of blood components, as well as for intravenous infusion of pharmaceuticals with highly sophisticated infusion pumps. Its core competencies emphasize innovative products in immune therapy and in therapies for extracorporeal blood treatment. Fresenius HemoCare has more than 2,000 employees worldwide who are actively engaged in extending its global reach for its leading European market platform. Related Links: Prosorba column, Cypress Bioscience Inc. and Fresenius HemoCare.
|
