New Drug Commercially Available in Hospitals Nationwide One Week After FDA
Approval
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Scios Inc. (Nasdaq: SCIO)
announced today that it has begun filling orders for and shipping Natrecor(R)
(nesiritide) to U.S. hospitals and that the drug is now available for use
nationwide. Scios also announced that the 165-person sales force is actively
educating physicians and other relevant audiences about Natrecor.
"We have made Natrecor fully available in the United States just one week
after receiving FDA approval, which demonstrates our sales and marketing
preparedness and capability," said Richard B. Brewer, Scios' president and
chief executive officer. "Wholesalers have been placing orders, numerous
hospitals have received their first delivery, and we are getting reports back
from physicians who have already begun using Natrecor to treat their
patients."
Scios received FDA approval to market Natrecor(R) (nesiritide) in the
United States on August 13, 2001.
Natrecor is the first of a new drug class, called human B-type
natriuretic peptides (hBNP), to be made available as a therapeutic for human
disease in the United States. Natrecor is a recombinant form of hBNP, a
natural protein found in the body.
Scios Inc.
Scios is a biopharmaceutical company developing potential 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.
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, 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.
NOTE: For Natrecor full prescribing information, please see
http://www.sciosinc.com.
SOURCE Scios Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sciosinc.com
CONTACT:
Wendy Carhart of Scios Inc., +1-408-616-8325;
or media, Jim Weiss of Weisscomm, +1-415-389-5055; or Michelle
Choi of Edelman PR Worldwide, +1-212-704-4580, both for Scios
Inc.
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