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Biotech / Medical : Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Marshall Teitelbaum who wrote (2354)	11/9/1998 9:15:00 AM
From: Mailbu	Respond to of 4676

Monday November 9, 8:02 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: CIBA Vision Corporation CIBA Vision Launches Vitravene(TM), Novel Antisense Mechanism Drug for Treatment of CMV Retinitis 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 - news), 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 www.vitravene.com, and the CIBA Vision website at 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 More Quotes and News: ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:ISIP - news) Related News Categories: biotech, medical/pharmaceutical