Scios' 168-Person Sales Force and Marketing Group Successfully Penetrating
The Growing Acute Heart Failure Market
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Scios Inc. (Nasdaq: SCIO)
announced today that net sales for its lead product Natrecor(R) (nesiritide)
were $9.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2001, its first full quarter of
sales. Net sales of Natrecor for the year ended 2001 were $14.1 million, only
four and a half months after commercial launch in the United States. Based on
this strong start, Scios has raised its full year 2002 net sales outlook for
Natrecor to $55 to $60 million.
"We are getting great feedback from the increasing number of clinicians
using Natrecor around the country. As a result, Natrecor is now stocked in
nearly 1,000 hospitals and being added to more and more hospital formularies
every month," said Richard B. Brewer, Scios' President and Chief Executive
Officer. "Our recently announced partnership with GlaxoSmithKline in Europe
will expand the global sales growth potential of Natrecor significantly."
"In addition, we continue to roll out ADHERE, our national Acute
Decompensated HEeart failure REgistry, and study Natrecor in additional heart
failure treatment settings. Successful implementation of these programs in
addition to core market penetration in the United States and Europe should
enable Natrecor to achieve top-tier sales levels over the next five years."
Natrecor is the first of a new drug class and a recombinant form of B-type
natriuretic peptide (BNP), a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the heart
in response to heart failure.
The initial promotional focus has been with cardiology and emergency
medicine physicians. Scios has seen considerable usage and frequent reorders
in its targeted hospitals. Acceptance of Natrecor has also been indicated by
a high level of interest by national Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) and
managed care. Several contracts have been completed and additional contracts
are in the final stages with several GPOs. Natrecor was also recently added
to the Kaiser formulary in both Northern and Southern California.
"Our sales results confirm that Natrecor fills a growing market need,"
said Thomas Feldman, Scios' Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Our
understanding of the market allowed us to penetrate initial targets quickly
and effectively. This, coupled with our strong sales force, makes us very
optimistic about achieving sales goals in 2002 and beyond."
Presentation / Webcast Details at JP Morgan H & Q
Mr. Brewer will present at the 20th Annual JPMorgan H&Q Healthcare
Conference at 2:00 p.m. PST in the Colonial Room of the Westin St. Francis
Hotel in San Francisco, Calif. The presentation will be available via live
webcast at http://www.eventsdigital.com/events/jpmhq/healthcare2002 and archived for
60 days following the presentation or by logging onto the investor section of
the company's website at http://www.sciosinc.com.
Fourth Quarter and Year End Conference Call Details
The company will discuss additional details when it releases fourth
quarter and full year 2001 financial results on Thursday, February 7, 2002.
The customary quarterly conference call will be held at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00
a.m. ET. The call will also be broadcast live and archived on Scios' web site
at http://www.sciosinc.com.
Scios Inc.
Scios is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for
cardiovascular and inflammatory disease. The Company's disease-based
technology platform integrates expertise in protein biology with computational
and medicinal chemistry to identify novel targets and rationally design small
molecule compounds for large markets with unmet medical needs.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. We generally identify such forward-looking statements
using words like "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "plan,"
"project," "contemplate," "anticipate" or similar statements. Statements that
are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and
uncertainties may include the sales penetration and success of Natrecor, the
success of clinical trials of Natrecor and our pipeline products, including
SCIO-469, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in the reports
filed by Scios with the SEC, including the Company's quarterly reports and
annual report on Form 10-K. Actual results, performance or achievements of
Scios may differ significantly from those described in these forward-looking
statements. Scios disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any financial projections or forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Scios Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sciosinc.com
CONTACT:
Wendy Carhart of Scios Inc., +1-408-616-8325
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