here is one
HOUSTON, Nov. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ENCY) today announced the commercial availability of THELIN(r)(1) (sitaxentan sodium(2)) 100 mg tablets in Italy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Encysive received European Union (EU) marketing authorization for THELIN from the European Commission in August 2006. THELIN is the first selective endothelin A receptor antagonist, and the first once-daily oral treatment available for patients with PAH.
THELIN is indicated for improving exercise capacity in PAH patients classified as World Health Organization (WHO) functional class III. Efficacy has been shown in primary pulmonary hypertension(3) and pulmonary hypertension associated with connective tissue disease (CTD).
"Italy joins the countries in which two different endothelin receptors antagonists are marketed for the PAH indication," said Nazzareno Galie, M.D., Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Centre of the University of Bologna. "The possibility of alternative drugs of the same class can be utilized by clinicians to identify the optimal benefit-to-risk ratio in the individual patient."
The European Commission's centralized licensing procedure permits Encysive to market THELIN in all 27 member states of the EU. THELIN has already been launched in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France and the Netherlands and will be launched in additional EU member states as local government approval for reimbursement is obtained.
"The launch of Thelin in Italy marks an important achievement for Encysive Pharmaceuticals," commented George Cole, President and CEO of Encysive. "Thelin is now being commercialized in the five largest markets in the EU, positioning us for substantial sales growth in 2008."
THELIN(r) (sitaxentan sodium) Overview
THELIN is an endothelin A receptor antagonist, a small molecule that blocks the action of endothelin, a potent mediator of blood vessel constriction and growth of smooth muscle in vascular walls. Endothelin receptor antagonists may prove to be effective in the treatment of a variety of diseases where the regulation of vascular constriction is important. THELIN is 6,500-fold selective in the targeting of the endothelin A receptor versus the endothelin B receptor. Highly selective endothelin A receptor antagonism has been shown to increase blood flow and reverse vasoconstriction in human clinical pharmacology studies. For more information, please visit
www.encysive.com.
Important Safety Information
ENCY.. Encysive Pharmaceuticals
Linear Mode
