Menarini granted exclusive European licence rights to Ipsen's Adenuric

Ipsen (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN) (Paris:IPN), an innovation-driven global specialty pharmaceutical group, announced an agreement whereby Ipsen grants the Menarini Group the exclusive licence rights to Adenuric^® (febuxostat) in 41 countries. Ipsen retains co-promotion rights for Adenuric^® in France. With its significant pan-European presence, Menarini ranks fourth largest pharmaceutical team for delivering medical information to physicians. Adenuric^® received marketing authorisation in the European Union on 21^st April 2008. Its 80 mg and 120 mg tablets are indicated for the treatment of chronic hyperuricaemia for conditions in which urate deposition has already occurred (including a history, or presence of, tophus and/or gouty arthritis). In 2003, Teijin Pharma Limited, Tokyo who discovered febuxostat had granted Ipsen the exclusive development and marketing rights to Adenuric^® in Europe.

Dr. Alberto Aleotti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Menarini Group said “Research in new treatments for gout has been absent for nearly forty years, making it an orphan disease in some respects. We are therefore extremely proud that Ipsen has chosen Menarini as the ideal partner to substantially contribute to European patients’ health with an innovative drug in this therapeutic area.”

Jean-Luc Bélingard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen said : “We are proud to bring to the medical community the first treatment alternative in decades in the treatment of hyperuricaemia in gout. It addresses a high unmet medical need in an environment where less than half the patients have been receiving appropriate lifestyle advice and / or urate lowering treatment.” Jean-Luc Bélingard added: “Adenuric^® is the first product launch coming from our fruitful two-way collaboration with our long-standing and valuable partner, Teijin, across Europe and Japan. We are delighted to enter into this agreement with the Menarini Group, an excellent partner in terms of geographical coverage and quality of medical information. Adenuric^® will also strengthen our primary care franchise in France through our co-promotion agreement.”