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| |  Naprelan, a Once-Daily Version of Naprosyn, Now Available PHILADELPHIA, May 30, 1996 -- Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, a division of American Home Products Corporation (NYSE: AHP), announces the availability of Naprelan(R)(naproxen sodium) controlled-release tablets, the first prescription product in the United States to offer once-daily dosing of the popular arthritis medication Naprosyn(R)(naproxen). It was cleared for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration in January 1996. Naproxen belongs to a class of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which accounts for more than half of all prescriptions written for arthritis patients.(1) Approximately 1 in 5 prescriptions for NSAIDs are for naproxen-based products,(2) providing a large potential market for Naprelan(R), the convenient, fast-acting, once-daily version of naproxen. Naprelan(R) offers a unique combination of rapid, 30-minute onset of pain relief with a sustained-release mechanism allowing for once-daily dosing and 24-hour effectiveness. This is made possible by an innovative delivery system, IPDAS(TM) (Intestinal Protective Drug Absorption System), that was developed by Elan Corporation (NYSE: ELN) and is available only in Naprelan(R). The sustained-release component of Naprelan(R) is designed to widely disperse the sustained-release microparticles throughout the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for gradual absorption thus providing a full day's duration of activity. Naprelan(R) is the only once-daily arthritis medication that offers both fast onset of pain relief and 24 hours of continuous relief. "We know that many arthritis sufferers frequently switch medications because of inconvenient dosing, lack of efficacy, or undesirable side effects," said Marc Deitch, M.D., Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, and Medical Director for Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. "We believe that Naprelan(R) provides an important new option for physicians treating arthritis patients." Currently, approximately 37.9 million persons have arthritis, one of the leading causes of work-related disability in the U.S.(3) It is estimated that by the year 2020 the number of arthritis sufferers will increase to 59.4 million.(4) "Naprelan(R) is well positioned to take advantage of long-term trends in arthritis care," says Robert Essner, President of Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. "Considering the popularity of Naprosyn(R) among people with arthritis, we are understandably excited about the future prospects for Naprelan(R)." Naprelan(R) offers the same efficacy and safety profile as Naprosyn(R) with the added features of fast onset of pain relief and once-daily dosing. Long considered a standard in arthritis treatment, naproxen has been extensively tested for safety and efficacy for over 20 years. Side effects of naproxen, as with all NSAIDs, most frequently relate to gastrointestinal problems. In patients treated chronically with NSAID therapy, serious gastrointestinal toxicity such as perforation, ulceration, and bleeding can occur. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories is a major research-oriented pharmaceutical company with leading products in the areas of women's health care, cardiovascular and metabolic disease therapies, central nervous system drugs, anti-inflammatory agents, vaccines, and generic pharmaceuticals. American Home Products Corporation ranks among the top companies in the world in sales of pharmaceuticals and health care products. It is also a leader in agricultural products, animal health care, medical devices, and food products. Elan Corporation is a leading worldwide drug delivery company with innovative drug absorption technologies designed to improve patient care in a cost-effective manner. Its principal research and manufacturing facilities are in Ireland and the United States. REFERENCES 1. Baum, C, Kennedy DL, Forbes MB. Utilization of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Arthritis Rheum. 1985;28:686-692. 2. IMS Data. 3. La Plante, MP. Data on disability from the National Health Interview Survey, 1983-1985. Washington, DC: US Department of Education, National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 1988. 4. National Health Interview Survey, 1989-1991. MMWR, June 24, 1994. volume 43, number 24, 433-438. Naprosyn(R)(naproxen) is a registered trademark of Syntex Puerto Rico Inc. IPDAS(TM) is a trademark of elan pharma ltd.
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