Press
Our goal is to identify areas of need, and fill those needs with unique and innovative products.
Oryx Announces Launch of Advicor® in Canada
Mississauga, Ontario January 9th, 2006 - Oryx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Oryx) is pleased to announce the introduction of prescription Advicor® (niacin extended-release/lovastatin tablets) in Canada. Advicor is the first and only combination product for the treatment of dyslipidemia approved in Canada. It contains Niaspan® a highly effective therapy which raises the body's HDL-C, also known as the "good cholesterol", and lovastatin which lowers the body's LDL-C, also known as the "bad cholesterol".
Advicor is approved in Canada for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, including patients with mixed dyslipidaemia characterized by elevated levels of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides and low levels of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C).
"The launch of Advicor in Canada represents a significant milestone for Oryx and follows shortly after the introduction of Niaspan in May 2005. We are pleased to be providing this significant new therapy to all Canadians, fulfilling an unmet need for raising HDL-C ("good cholesterol") and lowering LDL-C ('bad cholesterol") in a single pill", stated Douglas Reynolds, President of Oryx, a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company focused in several therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular disease.
Advicor and Niaspan were developed by Kos Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Kos) and recorded revenue in excess of $500 million in the United States in 2005. Pursuant to the agreement with Kos, which was established in August 2003, Oryx has exclusive commercialization rights to Niaspan and Advicor in Canada and is responsible for all promotional investments. Kos is responsible for manufacturing and supplying Niaspan and Advicor for sale in Canada. The cholesterol market in Canada was valued at over $1.5 billion according to IMS in 2005, reflecting an annual growth rate of 10%, with cardiovascular disease remaining the number one cause of death among Canadians.
About Oryx:
Oryx (www.oryxpharma.com) is a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company focused on several therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular disease. Oryx currently promotes several prescription pharmaceutical products in Canada including two additional cardiovascular therapies, Corvert®, from Pfizer Canada, and Angiomax®, from The Medicines Company.
About Kos:
Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in developing, commercializing, manufacturing and marketing proprietary prescription products for the treatment of chronic diseases. The Company's principal product development strategy is to reformulate existing pharmaceutical products with large market potential to improve safety, efficacy, or patient compliance. The Company currently markets Niaspan and Advicor® for the treatment of cholesterol disorders, and Azmacort® for the treatment of asthma. Kos is developing additional products, has proprietary drug delivery technologies in solid-dose and aerosol metered-dose inhalation administration and is pursuing certain strategic business development and licensing opportunities.
Primary Contact Information:
Doug Reynolds
President
Oryx Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Tel. (866) 260-6291 (toll free) Ext. 6773
dougr@oryxpharma.ca