Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals sign co-promotion agreement for Zipsor

Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company with both development and commercial capabilities focused on women's healthcare and pain management, today announced that it has signed a co-promotion agreement for Zipsor™ (diclofenac potassium) Liquid Filled Capsules with Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., a global bio-pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Switzerland. Zipsor, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate acute pain in adults received FDA approval in June 2009, and diclofenac, the active ingredient in Zipsor, is one of the most widely prescribed NSAIDs in the world.  

Under the agreement, Ferring's orthopaedic sales force will promote Zipsor to certain orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, sports medicine physicians and physiatrists in the United States.  Ferring will receive a royalty on Zipsor sales generated by a pre-defined target prescriber base.  Co-promotion efforts will begin on May 3, 2010.

"Zipsor represents an exciting addition to our current orthopaedic product portfolio," said William N. Garbarini, Vice President, Orthopaedics / Urology Business Unit, Ferring Pharmaceuticals.  "Ferring has successfully commercialized Euflexxa in the United States and welcomes the opportunity to expand our offering to the orthopaedic community by helping orthopaedic surgeons and rheumatologists treat patients with acute pain."

Commenting on the agreement, Natasha Giordano, Xanodyne's Chief Operating Officer said, "We are pleased to partner with a quality company such as Ferring to help us extend the reach of Zipsor in the United States beyond pain specialists and other selected physicians who are the primary focus of our current sales efforts. We look forward to working together to leverage the early market success of Zipsor and to reach considerably more practitioners who attend to the needs of patients with acute pain."