STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 12, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Meda has concluded a long-term license agreement with the European pharmaceuticals group Recordati on sole marketing rights to Zanidip (lercanidipin) in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Zanidip, discovered and developed by Recordati, is a third generation lipofilic, calcium antagonist for the treatment of hypertension, which has shown a favourable combination of efficacy and tolerability. The market for calcium antagonists in Sweden, Norway and Denmark is approximately SEK 1 100 millions.
"Zanidip fits well into Meda's strategy to offer innovative and cost efficient products within prioritised therapeutic areas. Zanidip is a step to strengthen Meda's position in the cardiovascular field", says Anders Lonner, CEO of Meda.
"We are delighted to have Meda as our new partner for Zanidip", comments Dr. Avi Sartani, Recordati Vice President and Director Pharmaceutical Research & Development. "Meda has built a strong organisation that will ensure future positive development of Zanidip in the Nordic markets".
Meda AB is a specialty pharmaceuticals company listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Meda markets prescription and over- the-counter drugs and medical equipment in the Nordic countries and the Baltic States.
Recordati, established in 1926, is a European pharmaceutical group listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (Reuters RECI.MI, Bloomberg REC IM, ISIN IT 0003074447), dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical chemicals, with headquarters in Milan, Italy and operating subsidiaries in France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. Today Zanidip (lercanidipin) is approved in 45 countries, is on the market in 32 of these, and has been filed for approval in a further 37 countries, including the USA where the NDA was filed by Forest Laboratories, Recordati's licensee for the US market, in October 2001. In first nine months 2001, lercanidipin sales were EUR 41.8 millions.
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