Alpharma Says Late-Stage Trial of Pain Reliever Meets Goal
BRIDGEWATER, NJ -- Nov 29, 2007 -- Alpharma, a leading, global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced positive results from its Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pivotal efficacy trial for its abuse-deterrent, extended-release opioid, ALO-01. In this multi-center trial of over 500 patients, ALO-01 demonstrated significant pain relief (p < 0.05). This primary endpoint was agreed to by the FDA via the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process.
"These positive clinical results will support the NDA filing for ALO-01 we are targeting for the first half of 2008," commented Dean Mitchell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alpharma. "We believe that abuse deterrent products will play a significant role in the treatment of pain, and ALO-01 has the potential to be a breakthrough product."
"Data suggests that pain relievers have become the leading initial choice for first-time illicit drug users," noted Nathaniel Katz, MD, MS Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at Tufts University School of Medicine. "Physicians are seeking pain treatment options that are effective, yet reduce legitimate concerns regarding potential abuse. Alpharma's proprietary technology combines an extended-release opioid with a sequestered core of the antagonist, naltrexone, in a single dosage form. If the product candidate is taken as directed, it is intended that the naltrexone will remain sequestered and the patient will achieve pain relief similar to morphine sulfate extended-release capsules. If the capsule is tampered with by crushing, chewing or dissolving, which are common approaches abusers use to accelerate euphoria, it is expected that the naltrexone will be released and euphoria will be significantly reduced."
Dr. Katz concluded, "Alpharma's innovative approach to abuse deterrence holds significant promise for chronic pain patients and healthcare professionals as physicians may be more likely to choose ALO-01, if approved by the FDA, to treat moderate to severe pain than currently available opioid products which do not offer an abuse-deterrent mechanism."
Alpharma management is hosting an Investor Meeting on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 3:00PM at The Four Seasons Hotel in New York, New York where the detailed results of this ALO-01 clinical trial will be discussed along with other business updates.
Alpharma press releases are also available at our Web site: http://www.alpharma.com.
About Alpharma
Alpharma Inc. (NYSE:ALO - News) is a global specialty pharmaceutical company with leadership positions in products for humans and animals. Alpharma is presently active in more than 60 countries. Alpharma has a growing branded pharmaceutical franchise in the U.S. pain market with its KADIAN® (morphine sulfate extended-release) Capsules, and an innovative pharmaceutical product pipeline that consists of several novel approaches to treat pain, including the FLECTOR® Patch (diclofenac epolamine topical patch), which is expected to launch in early 2008. In addition, Alpharma is among the world's leading producers of several specialty pharmaceutical-grade bulk antibiotics and is internationally recognized as a leading provider of pharmaceutical products for poultry and livestock.
Statements made in this release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, including those relating to future financial expectations, involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Information on important potential risks and uncertainties not discussed herein may be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.