Release issued 13th July 2007

Ethypharm has signed a new licensing agreement with the Merck Generique laboratory for the marketing of Buprenorphine. Thus, Merck is Ethypharm’s second marketing partner for this product in France. The product was launched on April 25th 2007.

Last year, Ethypharm concluded a licensing agreement with the Arrow laboratory who became the first marketing partner for this generic of Subutex in France.Registered in Europe, the product will shortly be launched by marketing partner Nycomed in Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

“We are happy to sign this agreement with Merck,” declared Bruno Delie, Sales and Marketing Director of Ethypharm. “Merck is the main French generic company. Its leading position should enable us to consolidate our sales on this expanding market. We intend to extend the commercialization of this product to the main European markets, once our partners have obtained the necessary authorizations,” he added.

Buprenorphine is a generic formulation of Subutex® indicated in the treatment of opiate dependency.   It is a legally recognized drug containing a morphine-like substance.   This major pharmaco-dependency substitute product is a morphinic antagonistic/ agonist which removes the effect of need and hence the source of dependency. 

In 2006, the Buprenorphine market represented more than 82 millions of sales in France in the field of the substitute treatment of major pharmaco dependency to opiates. 

This signature with the leading Generics Company (30% of market share in France) makes way for a notable increase in the market share of Buprenorphine as well as a strong competitive position of this product on the French market.

About d’ Ethypharm
www.ethypharm.com

Ethypharm is a drug delivery company with focus on development of branded and generic oral modified release products. Main therapeutic areas include pain management, cardiovascular and CNS. Ethypharm currently manufactures and sells 50 different products through its international network of licensing partners.
Ethypharm proprietary technology platform includes controlled release, taste masking, fast melt tablets and enhanced solubilisation systems for poorly soluble drugs. Ethypharm is directly present in all major healthcare markets with commercial manufacturing and R&D operations in Europe, North America and Asia.


For further information, contact:

Lise Prum
Corporate Communication
ETHYPHARM SA
194, Bureaux de la Colline, 92213 Saint Cloud Cedex France
Tel : +33 1 41 12 17 20
http://www.ethypharm.com/

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