ATLANTA and NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- CIBA Vision Corporation,
the eye care unit of Novartis AG, today announced the launch of Vitravene
(fomivirsen sodium intravitreal injectable), for the treatment of
cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS. The announcement was
made at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Vitravene is the first in a class of novel therapeutics based on an
antisense mechanism to be approved for marketing in the U.S. Vitravene is
indicated for the local treatment of CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS who
are intolerant of or have a contraindication to other treatments for CMV
retinitis or who were insufficiently responsive to previous treatments for CMV
retinitis.
A Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) submitted by CIBA Vision is
currently under review with the European Agency for the Evaluation of
Medicinal Products (EMEA) for the marketing of Vitravene in Europe.
CIBA Vision's partner in the discovery and development of Vitravene is
Isis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ISIP), Carlsbad, Calif.
The recommended dose of Vitravene is 330 (micrograms). Treatment with
Vitravene involves an induction and a maintenance phase. The induction dose
for Vitravene should be one injection every other week for two doses.
Subsequent maintenance doses should be administered once every four weeks
after induction. Vitravene will be marketed directly to physicians and
clinics.
CIBA Vision will offer reimbursement support services to assist providers
with claims submission, claims adjudication and reimbursement questions.
Additionally, CIBA Vision has established the Vitravene Patient Assistance
Program (PAP) to provide therapy to patients who meet the eligibility
criteria. These services can be obtained by calling CIBA Vision Vitravene
Support Services at 1-877-458-9393.
With worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, CIBA Vision is a
global leader in research, development and manufacturing of optical and
ophthalmic products and services, including contact lenses, lens care
products, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. CIBA Vision products are available
in more than 70 countries. For more information, please visit the Vitravene
web site at http://www.vitravene.com, and the CIBA Vision website at
http://www.cibavision.com.
CIBA Vision is the eye care unit of Novartis AG, a world leader in Life
Sciences with core businesses in Healthcare, Agribusiness and Consumer Health
(Self-Medication and Nutrition). In 1997, Novartis Group sales were 31.2
billion Swiss francs, of which 17.0 billion were in Healthcare, 8.3 billion in
Agribusiness and 5.9 billion in Consumer Health. The group annually invests
more than 3.6 billion Swiss francs in R&D. Headquartered in Basel,
Switzerland, Novartis employs about 86,000 people and operates in over 100
countries around the world.
SOURCE CIBA Vision Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.cibavision.com
CONTACT:
Ann Bailey Berry, CIBA Vision Corporation,
770-418-3014 or Fax: 770-418-4256
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