CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it has signed a co-promotion agreement with Novartis Consumer Health to market Denavir(R) (pencyclovir cream) to its target dentists in the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, CollaGenex will receive detailing fees and performance payments from Novartis.
Denavir(R) is a topically applied prescription medication for the treatment of recurrent cold sores in healthy adults. The product is an anti-viral cream that works by stopping viral replication within herpes simplex I infected cells, the virus responsible for the formation of oral lesions. Denavir(R) is the only prescription cream proven to shorten the duration of a cold sore episode. It has been available to doctors and dentists since 1998.
There are over 55 million persons who suffer from recurrent cold sores each year, and the average sufferer experiences two episodes per year. The market for cold sore treatments, both Rx and OTC, is estimated at over $230 million. CollaGenex will market Denavir(R) to dental professionals through its industry-leading 115-person professional pharmaceutical sales force.
"In signing this co-promotion deal with Novartis to market Denavir(R), we add another high-quality prescription pharmaceutical to the line of products detailed by CollaGenex," noted Brian M. Gallagher, PhD, chairman, president and chief executive officer of CollaGenex. "We know from past experience that the brand responds well to targeted promotional efforts of a specialized pharmaceutical sales force. Dentists appreciate that Denavir(R) is a safe, effective product with a proven track record and recognize that it is clearly differentiated from the OTC products which provide only modest symptomatic relief."
CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company currently focused on providing innovative medical therapies to the dental and dermatology markets. Currently, the Company's 115-person professional pharmaceutical sales force markets Periostat(R), the first and only pharmaceutical to treat periodontal disease by inhibiting the enzymes that destroy periodontal support tissues, Vioxx(R), a Merck & Co. drug that CollaGenex co-promotes for the treatment of acute dental pain, Atridox(R), Atrisorb(R) and Atrisorb-D(R), Atrix Laboratories Inc.'s products for the treatment of adult periodontitis, and Pandel(R), a mid-potency corticosteroid licensed from Savage Laboratories.
Research has shown that the enzyme suppression technology underlying Periostat may also be applicable to other diseases involving inflammation and/or destruction of the body's connective tissues, including acne, rosacea, meibomianitis and cancer metastasis, among others. CollaGenex is further developing Periostat, as well as a series of novel, proprietary compounds known as IMPACS(TM) (Inhibitors of Multiple Proteases and Cytokines), to address these applications.
In addition CollaGenex is developing the Restoraderm(TM) technology, a unique, proprietary dermal drug delivery system, in order to develop a range of topical dermatological products with enhanced pharmacologic and cosmetic properties.
To receive additional information on the Company, please visit www.collagenex.com
