Thursday September 30, 8:29 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Vertex Partner Kissei Pharmaceutical to Launch HIV
Protease Inhibitor Prozei(TM) in Japan
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX - news) and Kissei
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Matsumoto-City, Japan) announced today that Kissei is launching Prozei(TM) (amprenavir), an
orally administered HIV protease inhibitor, in Japan. Prozei was approved in mid-September through a new fast-track
evaluation process instituted by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare for innovative HIV therapies, and the drug will be
available to patients beginning October 1. Prozei (known outside of Japan by the trade name Agenerase(TM)) was discovered
at Vertex and has been developed in Japan by Kissei.
Prozei is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection. Prozei has a long half life,
allowing the drug to be dosed twice daily. Prozei can be taken with or without food, but it is recommended that the drug not be
taken at the same time as a high-fat meal.
''Today's approval is a significant achievement, as Vertex and Kissei have worked closely for six years to successfully develop
and commercialize Prozei in the Japanese market,'' said Dr. Joshua Boger, Chairman, President, and CEO of Vertex. ''We
look forward to continued success for Vertex and Kissei in the area of HIV therapy.''
In the United States, Vertex's partner Glaxo Wellcome received accelerated approval for Agenerase from the FDA in April
1999. Agenerase is being marketed in the United States by Glaxo Wellcome. Vertex is co-promoting Agenerase in the United
States. Agenerase has also received approval in Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico and Israel. Approval of Agenerase is pending in
the European Union, Australia, and other countries. Agenerase was discovered by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and licensed to
Glaxo Wellcome for development outside the Far East.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, small molecule
pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diseases for which there are currently limited or no effective treatments. The Company is a
leader in the use of structure-based drug design, an approach to drug discovery that integrates advanced biology, biophysics,
chemistry and information technologies. The Company is concentrating on the discovery and development of drugs for the
treatment of viral diseases, multidrug resistance in cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative
diseases.
There can be no assurance that clinical trials of Prozei in Japan will be successful, or that Prozei will be marketed successfully.
There can be no assurance that Agenerase will receive approval from any other regulatory authorities. Investors are also
directed to consider other risks and uncertainties discussed in Vertex documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Prozei is a trademark of Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Agenerase is a trademark of the Glaxo Wellcome group of companies.
Vertex's press releases are also available by fax-on-demand at 800-758-5804, Code 938395
SOURCE: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated |
