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| |  Canada Approves Marinol (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol) For AIDS-Related Anorexia MARKHAM, ON -- April 27, 2000 -- Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that the Therapeutic Products Program of Health Canada has approved Marinol(R)(delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) for the treatment of AIDS-related anorexia associated with weight loss. Marinol is an important new treatment option for HIV/AIDS patients. AIDS-related anorexia is defined as a sudden weight loss of 10 percent of normal body weight. This condition has profound clinical and quality of life implications. Weight loss and depletion of lean body mass in AIDS patients have been associated with accelerated disease progression, decreased survival and a reduced sense of well-being. An estimated 32,500 Canadians are known to be living with HIV/AIDS. Marinol can help many patients alleviate some complications of AIDS- related anorexia. Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 139 patients showed that compared to placebo, Marinol resulted in a statistically significant improvement in appetite. Trends toward improved body weight and mood, and decreases in nausea were also seen. Marinol offers patients key economic and dosing advantages. One 2.5-mg Marinol capsule twice daily suffices for the majority of patients. The cost for Marinol is nearly 60 percent less than for the current most frequently prescribed medication for AIDS-related anorexia. The active ingredient in Marinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the same active ingredient found in marijuana and it has an important appetite stimulant effect. Marinol fulfills the medical community's desire for an effective THC compound that offers an excellent safety profile and is a regulated pharmaceutical product. Marinol has been used by physicians in Canada since 1991 for the treatment of severe nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. With annual sales in excess of $8 billion, Sanofi-Synthelabo is a worldwide pharmaceutical company with 30,000 employees in 100 countries and 48 compounds currently in research and development. Corporate headquarters are in Paris, France. The Canadian affiliate, based in Markham, Ontario, employs more than 160 people across the country. Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc. is committed to improving the health and well being of Canadians through the introduction of innovative pharmaceutical products in the areas of cardiovascular disease/thrombosis, oncology, internal medicine and disorders of the central nervous system. Marinol is distributed in Canada by Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc. Marinol is a trademark of Unimed Pharmaceuticals Inc. Related Links: Marinol (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), Unimed Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi-Synthelabo Canada Inc.
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