Elder Pharma - Launches Osteoporosis Drug

Elder Pharmaceuticals To Market Roche's Osteoporosis Drug 'Bonviva' In India

Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd has informed BSE the Company has entered into an agreement for marking of an Osteoporis drug "BONVIVA" manufactured by F Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Basle, Switzerland with their distributors for India, viz. Taksal. Roche announced that it has finalized an agreement for its new and novel postmenopausal osteoporosis drug Bonviva to be marketed by the Company in India.

Roche, based in Basel, Switzerland, is a research driven Company with high expertise in Oncology, Transplantation, Virology, Inflammatory and Autoimmune diseases and Osteoporosis. The Company is a fast-growing pharmaceuticals Company with leadership in the osteoporosis segment in India through its brand Shelcal, which is ranked 40th amongst top 100 brands in India.

Roche’s move to launch an osteoporosis drug in India comes in the wake of the rising incidence of the disease among Indians. It is commonly seen in women over 50 years of age who are in the postmenopausal life stage; however, a significant number of men are also reported to be suffering from this condition. It is estimated that nearly 30 million Indians are affected by osteoporosis, with women bearing the major brunt of this disease.

Bisphosphonates are the most widely prescribed treatments of osteoporosis. Bonviva, a potent and highly effective bisphosphonate1 is the first monthly oral prescription medicine. Patients need only take 12 tablets a year versus 52 or 365 required with current weekly or daily bisphosphonate treatments. This is particularly important as many patients find currently available osteoporosis therapy inconvenient, which may help to explain why up to two thirds of patients stop taking their osteoporosis treatment within a year2, foregoing the bone strengthening benefits these drugs can only provide over time3.

Launched in 2005 in USA and Europe, Bonviva - whose main active ingredient is Ibandronic Acid - belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates and has a novel dosage regimen of just one-tablet-a-month. Roche, who in many markets is in co-promotion with GSK, is already marketing this product in more than 50 countries.

Says Dr. G L Telang, Managing Director Roche India, "We are very pleased to make available in India the once monthly Bonviva 150 mg tablet for postmenopausal osteoporosis. We can now offer women with postmenopausal osteoporosis an effective and more convenient regimen which may improve compliance leading to sustained bone strengthening benefits over time." Adds Mr. Alok Saxena, Director of the Company, "We have an expertise in marketing women's health care products in India and also an extensive distribution network reaching the micro interior towns and villages. Bonviva and Shelcal (calcium supplement) may be prescribed together in the treatment of osteoporosis thereby giving ready market to Roche’s product."

About Bonviva

• Bonviva, a potent bisphosphonate, has been studied to date in clinical trials involving over 12,000 patients.
• Bonviva is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women through reduction of elevated bone turnover. increasing bone mineral density and reduction of the incidence of fractures.
• Once monthly Bonviva (known in the US as Boniva) was approved by US FDA in March 2005 and by the EMEA in September 2005.