AACHEN, Germany, January 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Grünenthal GmbH announced that it has extended a licensing agreement with Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. for tapentadol to include the Japanese market. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical plans to arrange for the development of tapentadol for marketing in Japan. Ortho-McNeil's affiliate, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., a leading provider of prescription medicines in Japan, including pain medicines, will conduct such activities. Grünenthal will be responsible for the commercial supply of tapentadol for Japan.
Tapentadol (CG5503/ R331333) is a novel, investigational, centrally acting analgesic with a dual mode of action for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. Phase III studies of tapentadol have recently been initiated in the United States and in Europe. Tapentadol is the latest innovation coming out of Grünenthal R&D pipeline. It enriches the portfolio of pain products developed and marketed by Grünenthal.
"This agreement for the Japanese market is another milestone achieved in our work with Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical and moves us toward global development and commercialization of tapentadol," stated Prof. Dr. Eric-Paul Pâques, Member of the Executive Board of Grünenthal GmbH.
Grünenthal and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical began working together on tapentadol in February 2003 with a licensing agreement for the United States and Canada. The companies are co-developing tapentadol in the United States, Canada and the European Union.
About Grünenthal
Grünenthal researches, develops and produces high therapeutic value medicines and markets them throughout the world. Grünenthal is an expert in drugs for pain therapy and gynaecology and a leader in the field of intelligent, user-friendly drug delivery technologies. Grünenthal is an independent, family-owned company with a long history of international co-operations. The company was founded in 1946 and has its headquarters in Germany. We supply our markets from seven production sites around the world and have affiliates in 27 countries. Grünenthal employs about 1,900 people in Germany and about 4,700 world-wide. Sales in 2005 amounted to approximately 777 million Euro.
About Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceutical, K.K.
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., is based in Raritan, New Jersey, U.S.A. Its affiliate company, Janssen Pharmaceutical, K.K., based in Tokyo, Japan, provides analgesic/anaesthesiology, central nervous system, mycosis, cancer, and biologic products in Japan.
Contact:
Anke Krüger-Hellwig
Phone: +49-241-569-2858, Fax: +49-241-569-1486,
anke.krueger-hellwig@grunenthal.com
Grünenthal GmbH, 52099 Aachen, Germany, www.grunenthal.com
Contact: Anke Krüger-Hellwig, Phone: +49-241-569-2858, Fax: +49-241-569-1486, anke.krueger-hellwig@grunenthal.com, Grünenthal GmbH, 52099 Aachen, Germany, www.grunenthal.com
