Home  Media Press releases 2003
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| 27 August 2003 | 2003-08-27T00:00:00.0000000+01:00 |
| ASTRAZENECA INTRODUCES INTRAVENOUS FORMULATION OF NEXIUM® (esomeprazole) IN FIRST MARKET - SWEDEN
Offering New Hope to Patients Unable to Take Oral PPI Therapy
AstraZeneca announced today, after receiving its first approval from the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA), that it will launch the new intravenous (i.v.) formulation of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) Nexium®, providing an opportunity for physicians to treat patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who are unable to take oral therapy. Nexium® administered intravenously demonstrates the same efficacy as oral Nexium® – the first PPI to have shown superior control of gastric acid secretion compared with all other oral PPIs. | “Some patients, like those in intensive care units, are unable to take oral therapy due to their critical condition. The introduction of the Nexium® i.v. formulation provides these patients with a suitable alternative with the same, high efficacy as the oral formulation,” said Dr Ola Rönn, Vice President and Head of the Gastrointestinal Therapy Area, AstraZeneca. “Nexium® continues to gain market share worldwide, as more and more patients are able to experience the excellent acid control that it offers. We are currently seeking approval for this new formulation in a number of other markets, as well as additional indications for Nexium®, both of which will ensure that new patient groups can get the beneficial treatment effects of Nexium®."
Nexium® administered intravenously has been shown to provide acid control for as many hours with intragastric pH>4 as oral Nexium® in a double-blind, randomised, two-way crossover study. Nexium® i.v. is available in a single vial containing 40 mg for both infusion and injection. This convenient presentation means nurses and physicians can administer 20 or 40 mg from one single vial for either infusion or injection and it is also convenient for hospitals and pharmacists to stock.
AstraZeneca plans to launch the intravenous formulation in the remaining EU markets, following the conclusion of a Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) in which Sweden will act as the reference member state. An application for approval in the US will be submitted shortly and further launches in the rest of the world will follow in 2004. This new formulation provides AstraZeneca with an additional opportunity to expand the use of Nexium® within the hospital setting and support Nexium® in becoming the first choice PPI with its unrivalled efficacy and safety profile. In 2002, Nexium® had sales of $1.978 billion worldwide.
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $17.8 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience and respiratory products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global and European) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
Media Enquiries:
Steve Brown, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5033
Chris Major, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5028
Åsa Pehrsson, Global PR Manager GI, Tel: +46 (0) 31 706 55 20
Investor Relations:
Mina Blair Robinson, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5084
Jonathan Hunt, Tel: +44 (0) 207 304 5087
Notes to editors:
To learn more about Nexium®, please visit our interactive website: www.astrazenecapressoffice.com
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