Sandoz Canada launches PrSandoz(R) Solifenacin on the Canadian market for the treatment of urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence

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BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Oct. 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandoz Canada announced today the launch of a new drug on the Canadian market, PrSandoz® Solifenacin (solifenacin succinate), which is used in reducing urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence. PrSandoz® Solifenacin is a generic equivalent to the product Vesikur marketed in Canada under the name PrVesicare*. This generic drug is available immediately on the Canadian market.

"PrSandoz® Solifenacin adds to the long list of generic prescription drugs available from Sandoz Canada, all of which are manufactured according to the highest quality standards in the global pharmaceutical industry," says Michel Robidoux, President of Sandoz Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, more than half a million Canadian seniors reported urinary incontinence problems in 2008/2009 which means one in eight seniors.

* Registered trademark of Astellas Pharma Inc.

Disclaimer

The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "new", or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for PrSandoz® Solifenacin or regarding potential future revenues from PrSandoz® Solifenacin. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with PrSandoz® Solifenacin to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that PrSandoz® Solifenacin will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding PrSandoz® Solifenacin could be affected by, among other things, new clinical data or additional analysis of existing data, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; uncertainties regarding actual or potential legal proceedings, including, among others, intellectual property disputes or other legal efforts to prevent or limit Sandoz from selling PrSandoz® Solifenacin, and the uncertain outcome of any such litigation; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing difficulties or delays; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Sandoz is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Sandoz Canada

Established in Boucherville, Quebec, Sandoz Canada is part of Sandoz International GmbH, the world's second largest producer of generic drugs and a company of the Swiss multinational corporation, Novartis. A leader in its field, Sandoz Canada develops, produces, markets and distributes a wide range of generic products used, among others, in anesthesia, infectious diseases, oncology, dermatology, cardiology, and pain management. The Boucherville manufacturing plant specializes in the production of key injectable products.

About Sandoz

Sandoz, a division of Novartis, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals, driving sustainable access to high-quality healthcare. Sandoz employs more than 26,000 people worldwide and supplies a broad range of affordable, primarily off-patent products to patients and customers around the globe.

The Sandoz global portfolio comprises approximately 1,100 molecules, which accounted for 2014 sales of USD 9.6 billion. Sandoz holds the global #1 position in biosimilars as well as in generic anti-infectives, ophthalmics and transplantation medicines.

Nearly half of Sandoz's portfolio is in differentiated products – products that are scientifically more difficult to develop and manufacture than standard generics.

In addition to strong organic growth since consolidating its generics businesses under the Sandoz brand name in 2003, Sandoz has consistently driven growth in selected geographies and differentiated product areas through a series of targeted acquisitions.

Sandoz is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Sandoz_global at http://twitter.com/Sandoz_Global.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=36770