Idis to manage ViroPharma's named patient program

ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) and Idis, the global leader in developing long-term strategic solutions to therapeutic access, today announced that the two companies have partnered to facilitate access to certain ViroPharma products through a named patient program (NPP). ViroPharma's NPP, developed and managed by Idis, will allow international healthcare professionals to prescribe certain products to individual patients until the time that approval is sought in local countries.

Under an NPP, physicians can prescribe investigational or pre-approval products to qualifying patients on an individual basis. Such products can be administered to individual patients who are suffering from serious illnesses and have no other therapeutic options. Idis will manage the ViroPharma NPP in countries, except the United States, where the products are not yet approved.

Licensed healthcare professionals in countries other than the United States where such ViroPharma products are not yet approved, can access the program at http://www.viropharmaNPP.com and on the physician section of the ViroPharma Incorporated corporate website (http://www.viropharma.com), or can contact Idis directly via telephone at +44(01)1952 824 100, fax +44 (0)1932 824 300, or via email at [email protected].

"This program was developed for certain patients who have no alternative therapeutic option for their serious diseases," commented Thierry Darcis M.D., vice president, general manager, ViroPharma Europe. "They are in great need of access to investigational therapeutics that have either been approved in other parts of the world or have shown promise in clinical studies, prior to the time that regulatory approval is sought. ViroPharma is dedicated to meeting the needs of patients, and the management of this NPP with our partners Idis is consistent with that goal."

"The named patient program that we have developed for ViroPharma will help ensure access to important therapies for patients with urgent unmet medical needs. Idis will work in close partnership with ViroPharma to manage named patient requests in a way that is reliable, responsible and legal, ensuring the regulatory obligations are met," commented Simon Estcourt, business development director, Idis.