Novel Needle-Free Injection System to Be Available for HIV Therapy
BEDMINSTER, N.J., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bioject Medical
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: BJCT), a leading developer of needle-free drug
delivery systems, announced today that it has entered into a supply agreement
with Chronimed Inc. (Nasdaq: CHMD), a specialty pharmacy which distributes
pharmaceuticals and provides specialized patient management services for
people with HIV/AIDS. The agreement calls for the sale of Biojector(R) 2000
(B-2000) needle-free systems and related accessories to Chronimed for
distribution to eligible patients who are using FUZEON(R), an AIDS drug
developed by Trimeris, Inc. ("Trimeris") in collaboration with Roche.
Financial terms of the agreement between Bioject and Chronimed were not
disclosed. FUZEON is the first and only fusion inhibitor for the treatment of
HIV. Unlike other HIV drugs that work after HIV has entered the human immune
cell, FUZEON works outside the CD4 cell, blocking HIV from entering the cell.
Early data recently presented at the HIV DART -- Frontiers in Drug
Development for Antiretroviral Therapies medical conference found that
patients who were administered a single dose of FUZEON with Bioject's B-2000
achieved equivalent drug levels in the blood compared to those who were
administered FUZEON with the standard needle and syringe. In a separate
study, the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS presented early
experience with the use of the B-2000 needle-free injection device in a cohort
of twelve FUZEON patients. Data from this small cohort of patients
experiencing tolerability problems with needle-based FUZEON therapy, who
switched to needle-free administration for up to 4 weeks, was encouraging and
supported the rationale to further assess the feasibility of needle-free
administration of FUZEON.
Commenting on the agreement, Jim O'Shea, Bioject's Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are very pleased to enter into this supply
agreement with Chronimed. The B-2000 has been used to deliver millions of
injections in a wide range of healthcare settings since approval in 1994. We
believe our needle-free technology presents a beneficial alternative to
conventional needle-syringe administration for HIV patients who may consider
or have already incorporated FUZEON as part of their treatment regimens. We
hope that this development will represent the beginning of the successful
application of our company's needle-free drug delivery products to the needs
of HIV infected patients and their healthcare providers."
Tony Zappa, Chronimed's Executive Vice President of Operations commented,
"We are excited about the opportunity to offer Bioject's B-2000 needle-free
system as part of an overall evaluation and support program for individuals
that are using FUZEON in their HIV/AIDS treatment regimen and those who have
delayed starting FUZEON due to concerns about using a needle and syringe.
Given our involvement with FUZEON patients and their healthcare providers from
its initial launch in March 2003, we have gained unique and extensive
experience with injection-related issues encountered during therapy. We have
designed our evaluation and support program in order to successfully assess
these issues in an effort to further improve patient outcomes and clinician
experiences with FUZEON."
Effective February 4th, 2005, Chronimed will begin to offer FUZEON
patients access to their comprehensive evaluation and support program that
includes the B-2000 as a new injection option. For more information on the
evaluation and support program or to refer a patient, contact Chronimed at
866-694-6670.
Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., based in Bedminster, New Jersey, and
Portland, Oregon, is an innovative developer and manufacturer of needle-free
drug delivery systems. Needle-free injection works by forcing medication at
high speed through a tiny orifice held against the skin. This creates a fine
stream of high-pressure fluid penetrating the skin and depositing medication
in the tissue beneath. The Company is focused on developing mutually
beneficial agreements with leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and
veterinary companies.
Chronimed Inc. is a specialty pharmacy that distributes prescription drugs
and provides specialized therapy management services for people with certain
conditions, including HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, and diseases treated with
biotech injectable medications. Chronimed works with patients, physicians and
other health care providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, health plans and
insurers, and government agencies to improve clinical and economic outcomes.
Chronimed's website address is http://www.chronimed.com.
For more information on Bioject, visit http://www.bioject.com.
SOURCE Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.bioject.com
CONTACT:
John Gandolfo, Chief Financial Officer of
Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., +1-908-470-2800, ext. 5102, or
jgandolfo@bioject.com; or Brad Schumacher, Director of Investor
Relations of Chronimed Inc., +1-952-979-3942; or John Baldissera
of BPC Financial Marketing, +800-368-1217, or
bschumacher@chronimed.com, for Bioject Medical Technologies Inc.
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