750mg Capsules Now Shipping to Pharmacies Across the U.S.
GERMANTOWN, Md., July 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advancis
Pharmaceutical Corporation (Nasdaq: AVNC), a pharmaceutical company focused
on developing and commercializing novel anti-infective products, today
announced the commercial launch of Keflex 750mg capsules. The new strength
of Keflex allows health care professionals the flexibility to deliver
higher doses of Keflex with fewer capsules per day. Keflex 750mg capsules
have been manufactured, packaged, and are currently being distributed to
pharmacies nationwide in bottles of 50.
"With the availability of Keflex 750mg capsules, physicians and other
health care professionals will be able to deliver a total daily dose of
Keflex with fewer capsules per day," said Edward M. Rudnic, Ph.D.,
president and CEO of Advancis. "With pharmacy distribution underway, our
sales force will begin promoting Keflex 750mg capsules to high volume
prescribers across the United States."
Advancis has deployed 83 field-based sales personnel, including 75
sales representatives and eight district sales managers, fully dedicated to
the promotion of Keflex 750mg. Sales representatives from Advancis have
been presenting Keflex 750mg to pharmacists and pharmaceutical distributors
since July 17, 2006.
Advancis' sales representatives are expected to begin directly
promoting Keflex 750mg to targeted physicians as well as providing patient
starter samples later this week. The Company expects to see measurable
Keflex 750mg prescription volume beginning the week of July 31, 2006.
Advancis' sales force territories cover zip codes from which more than 80%
of all cephalexin market prescriptions are generated. Advancis will augment
its sales force efforts with advertising, direct mail, and telemarketing.
Advancis acquired the rights to manufacture, market, and sell Keflex in
the United States in July of 2004. Cephalexin is the third most prescribed
outpatient antibiotic in the United States, with more than 25 million
prescriptions written annually. Keflex is the number-one most prescribed
oral cephalosporin antibiotic and is also the number-one recommended oral
antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections.
Advancis received approval for introduction of the Keflex 750mg capsules in
May, 2006.
About Keflex:
Keflex(R) Capsules (Cephalexin, USP) is a first-generation
cephalosporin antibiotic shown to be active against strains of both
gram-positive and gram- negative aerobes in vitro and in clinical
infections. Keflex is indicated for treatment of the following infections:
respiratory tract infections, otitis media, skin and skin structure
infections, bone infections, and genitourinary tract infections. Keflex is
currently available in 250mg capsules, 500mg capsules, and powder for oral
suspension. Keflex is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to the
cephalosporin group of antibiotics. Before therapy with cephalexin is
instituted, careful inquiry should be made to determine whether the patient
has had previous hypersensitivity reactions to cephalexin, cephalosporins,
penicillins, or other drugs. Keflex should be administered with caution in
the presence of markedly impaired renal function or a history of
gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis. More information on Keflex
and prescribing information are available at http://www.keflex.com
ABOUT ADVANCIS PHARMACEUTICAL:
Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation (Nasdaq: AVNC) is a pharmaceutical
company focused on the development and commercialization of pulsatile drug
products that fulfill substantial unmet medical needs in the treatment of
infectious disease. The Company is developing a portfolio of anti-infective
drugs based on its novel biological finding that bacteria exposed to
antibiotics in frontloaded staccato bursts, or "pulses," are killed more
efficiently and effectively than those under standard treatment regimens.
Based on this finding, Advancis has developed a proprietary, once-a-day
pulsatile delivery technology called PULSYS. By examining the resistance
patterns of bacteria and applying its delivery technologies, Advancis has
the potential to redefine infectious disease therapy and significantly
improve drug efficacy, shorten length of therapy, and reduce drug
resistance versus currently available antibacterial products. For more on
Advancis, please visit http://www.advancispharm.com.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These
statements are based on Advancis' current expectations and assumptions.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties that would cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. The words, "believe," "expect,"
"intend," "anticipate," "plan," "hope," and variations of such words, and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence
does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Statements in this
announcement that are forward- looking include, but are not limited to,
statements about the Company's future development plans, clinical trials,
and financial results. The actual results realized by Advancis could differ
materially from these forward-looking statements, depending in particular
upon the risks and uncertainties described in the Company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. These include, without limitation,
risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's financial results and the
ability of the Company to (1) reach profitability, (2) prove that the
preliminary findings for its product candidates are valid, (3) receive
required regulatory approvals, (4) successfully conduct clinical trials in
a timely manner, (5) establish its competitive position for its products,
(6) develop and commercialize products that are superior to existing or
newly developed competitor products, (7) develop products without any
defects, (8) have sufficient capital resources to fund its operations, (9)
protect its intellectual property rights and patents, (10) implement its
sales and marketing strategy, (11) successfully attract and retain
collaborative partners, (12) successfully develop, commercialize, and
receive market acceptance of its Keflex products, and (13) retain its
senior management and other personnel. Existing and prospective investors
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of today's date. Advancis undertakes no
obligation to update or revise the information in this announcement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or
otherwise.
SOURCE Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.advancispharm.com
http://www.keflex.com
CONTACT:
Robert Bannon, Senior Director, Investor
Relations, of Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation,
+1-301-944-6710, ir@advancispharm.com
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