Sucampo's RESCULA 0.15% now available by prescription across the U.S.

Feb 19 2013

Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Sucampo" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: SCMP) (SPI) today announced that RESCULA^® (unoprostone isopropyl ophthalmic solution) 0.15% is now available by prescription across the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a sNDA for RESCULA for the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension on December 7, 2012.

"RESCULA is an important prostone-based treatment option for patients suffering from open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common form of glaucoma," said Sucampo's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer Ryuji Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D. "We have already received positive feedback from many in the ophthalmology and optometry communities regarding RESCULA's unique mechanism of action as a BK channel activator, and we are pleased that patients will now have access to the drug in order to help treat this disease."

According to the approved product labeling, RESCULA may be used as a first-line agent or concomitantly with other topical ophthalmic drug products to lower intraocular pressure. RESCULA is a BK (Big Potassium) channel activator, which is different from other IOP lowering agents.