NOVEN
REPORTS POSITIVE PHASE 2 RESULTS FOR
MESAFEM™ NON-HORMONAL
THERAPY FOR VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS |
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Miami, FL,
July 14, 2009 -- Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:
NOVN) today announced positive top-line results from its Phase 2
clinical study evaluating Mesafem™ (low-dose paroxetine mesylate)
for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) associated
with menopause (“VMS”).
This was a multi-center,
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 efficacy and safety
study of Mesafem in the treatment of VMS. The eight-week study, sponsored
by Noven, enrolled 102 patients (with 98 patients completing) at
ten clinical locations in the U.S. Patients in the active arm of
the study received a dose of Mesafem below 10mg once daily. The primary
objective of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of Mesafem
for the treatment of VMS. The primary outcome measures were mean
changes in frequency and severity of moderate-to-severe hot flashes
from baseline to the fourth and eighth weeks of the study.
"Although
designed and powered to detect an efficacy signal, we were very pleased
to achieve statistical significance in several primary outcome measures,
and to identify clear efficacy signals in the others," said
Joel S. Lippman, M.D., Noven’s Vice President – Clinical
Development & Chief Medical Officer. "Safety and tolerability
of Mesafem were similar to placebo, with no drug-related serious
adverse events. In short, Mesafem appears to be efficacious and well-tolerated
at the tested dose, and information from this study should permit
us to develop and initiate a well-designed and cost-effective Phase
3 clinical program by year-end."
Peter Brandt, Noven’s
President & CEO, said: "Today’s Phase 2 results exceeded
all our internal expectations from the standpoints of both efficacy
and tolerability. With the data from this study, we plan to expedite
Mesafem into Phase 3 development, and to advance our commercialization
and partnering strategies, with the goal of making this new non-hormonal
treatment option broadly available to women who suffer from VMS,
but who are not candidates for, or who have concerns about, hormone
therapy."
Concurrent with this
announcement, Noven issued a press release announcing that it had entered
into a definitive merger agreement with Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co.,
Inc. That press release is available at www.noven.com.
About Noven
Noven
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged
in the research, development, manufacture, marketing and sale of prescription
pharmaceutical products. Noven’s business and operations are
focused in three principal areas – transdermal drug delivery,
the Novogyne Pharmaceuticals joint venture, and Noven Therapeutics,
Noven’s specialty pharmaceutical
marketing and sales unit. Noven is committed to developing and offering
products and technologies that meaningfully benefit patients, its customers
and its industry partners. For more information, visit www.noven.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
under the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Except
for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in
this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial
risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements that are preceded by, followed by, or that include, the
words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects” or
similar expressions and statements are forward-looking statements. Noven’s
estimated or anticipated future results, product performance or other
non-historical facts are forward-looking and reflect Noven’s current
perspective on existing trends and information. Actual results, performance
or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed
or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These
forward-looking statements are based largely on the current expectations
of Noven and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
are subject to change based on factors that are, in many instances, beyond
Noven’s control. These factors include, but are not limited to,
risks and uncertainties related to the cost, timing and success of the
Phase 3 clinical trial for Mesafem, the risk that results from the Mesafem
Phase 2 clinical trial may not be indicative of results for the Phase
3 clinical trial, the unproven safety and efficacy of Mesafem, the difficulty
of predicting FDA approval of products, including timing, the possibility
that FDA product approval may not guarantee commercialization or commercial
success, the difficulty of predicting acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical
products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the risk that
product acceptance may be less than anticipated as well as risks related
to compliance with extensive, costly complex and evolving governmental
regulations and restrictions, and reimbursement policies of government
and private health insurers and others, and the risk that any potential
development partner for Mesafem may have priorities that are different
from or conflict with those of Noven. Accordingly, no assurances can
be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements
will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on Noven’s
results of operations or financial condition. For additional information
regarding these and other risks associated with Noven’s business,
readers should refer to Noven’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2008 as well as other reports filed from
time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless required
by law, Noven undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
Contact:
Joseph C. Jones
Vice President – Corporate Affairs
305-253-1916
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Copyright © 2009 Noven
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All rights reserved. |