Biomatrix Initiates Clinical Trial of Synvisc(R) for Osteoarthritis of the Hip
RIDGEFIELD, N.J., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOMATRIX, INC. (NYSE: BXM - news) today announced that it has initiated a clinical trial to evaluate its Synvisc® product for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip. Synvisc is an injectable, elastoviscous hylan preparation that has similar physical properties (elasticity and viscosity) to those of young, healthy, human synovial (joint) fluid, providing shock absorption and lubrication. Synvisc is already approved to treat osteoarthritic knee pain in 38 countries and is marketed in the US, most countries of the European Economic Area, and certain countries in Latin America, Australia and Asia.
This open study, which is being conducted at the Rheumatology Clinics of three of the most prestigious hospitals in France, will evaluate the safety, efficacy and duration of pain relief of viscosupplementation with Synvisc® into the hip joint.
Dr. Endre Balazs, Biomatrix' chief executive officer and chief scientific officer, stated, ''The opening of this trial marks the first step toward bringing this valuable medical therapeutic to the millions of people who suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip. It is also an important step in the implementation of our international development plan to expand the commercial potential for Synvisc. We have an exciting post-marketing clinical program for Synvisc underway that is aimed at pursuing other joint indications, demonstrating pharmaco-economic benefits, and providing positive data on the safety and efficacy of repeat treatment. We are very encouraged by the global success of Synvisc in treating osteoarthritis of the knee and anticipate demonstrating equally positive results for Synvisc as a front line treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip.''
Synvisc is marketed in the USA, most countries of the European Economic Area, and certain countries in Latin America and Asia. Biomatrix has contracts to market Synvisc in over 90 countries through marketing and distribution agreements with a number of large multi-national healthcare companies, and through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories has distribution rights and markets Synvisc in the USA and certain European and
Middle Eastern countries; Boehringer-Ingelheim in France; Rhone-Poulenc Rorer in Canada; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in Sweden and South Africa; Novartis Pharma AG throughout Latin America; and Bayer AG in Australia, New Zealand and certain countries in Asia.
Biomatrix developed and manufactures several other viscoelastic medical therapeutics. Hylaform® is an injectable viscoelastic hylan gel treatment for the correction of facial wrinkles and depressed scars. It is marketed in 23 countries by Collagen Aesthetics, Inc. (now Inamed Corp.) (OTC Bulletin Board: IMDC - news). Gelvisc® Vet is an elastoviscous hylan product for the treatment of arthritis in veterinary medicine that is distributed by Boehringer-Ingelheim in France and Equinord in Sweden. Biomatrix' Hylashield® products are viscoelastic therapeutics for the protection of the surface of the eye from noxious environmental conditions and are distributed in Canada by I-MED Pharma Inc. Biomatrix also manufactures nine patented elastoviscous intermediates for the skin care industry.
Biomatrix, Inc., headquartered in Ridgefield, New Jersey is an international biomedical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes elastoviscous products made from proprietary biological polymers called hylans, used in therapeutic medical applications and in skin care products.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the regulatory approval process, obtaining and enforcing patents, reimbursement by private health care providers, manufacturing capabilities, projected earnings and financial results, growing product demand, product liability, inventory levels of our marketing partners, future product development, and other risks detailed in Biomatrix' reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act, including Forms 10-Q and Biomatrix' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. For more information on Biomatrix, please visit the Company's web site at biomatrix.com.
SOURCE: Biomatrix, Inc.
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