Published on August 26, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Antares Pharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex: AIS) today announced that its partner Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) has launched its new Tjet™ needle-free injector system for the administration of human growth hormone (hGH). The Tjet™ device will be available exclusively in combination with the Teva hGH product Tev-Tropin® [somatropin (rDNA) for injection].
Robert F. Apple EVP, CFO and President of the Parenteral Products Division stated, “We are pleased that this product is now commercially available in the United States for children with growth hormone deficiency in a convenient, more user-friendly format and marks the first product launched under our strategic collaboration with Teva. We look forward to growing our business through additional product sales and royalty revenue with the launch of the Tjet device.”
Human growth hormone is a protein given by injection that is commonly used to treat children with growth hormone deficiency. Pediatric patients benefit both from the avoidance of using needles as well as the rapid injection speed associated with giving needle-free injections. According to industry estimates, the market for human growth hormone in the United States is approximately $1 billion which is the largest market segment globally. Antares currently markets its needle-free injection system for use in the treatment of growth hormone deficient children through its partners in Europe, Japan and Asia.
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