Download PRESS RELEASE Pierrel SpA: Signed with ARWAN Pharmaceutical

PRESS RELEASE
Pierrel S.p.A.:
Signed with ARWAN Pharmaceutical Industries a manufacturing agreement for
Articaine Pierrel and other dental anaestetics
in the Middle East and North Africa market
The agreement will last five years from the date of first supply
The minimum global contract value will be of about 3,0 million euros
Milan, March 8 2010 - Pierrel S.p.A. announces that it has signed a five years Manufacturing
Agreement with ARWAN Pharmaceutical Industries S.A.L., a Lebanon company specialized in the
distribution of injectable drugs, to market Pierrel Articaine Mepivacaine and Lidocaine in Middle East
and North Africa countries (“MENA Region”).
The market size of dental anaesthetics available in cartridges preparation, in the MENA Region
countries is estimated to be of approximately 40 Millions cartridges per year. The minimum global
contract value will be of about 3,0 million euros (representing around 10% of the market share,
with an expectation that it can be worth more than double).
The non-exclusive agreement provides that Arwan Pharmaceutical takes the lead to register Pierrel
Articaine Mepivacaine and Lidocaine in the MENA Region and that Pierrel supplies them on the sales
basis in that area.
Pierrel Articaine, has considerable competitive advantages compared to the existing injectable local
anaestetics and has the potential to capture, within the next 2 years, significant market shares in the
range of at least 20 - 25% out of the estimated 40 million cartridges per year .
Pierrel Articaine is manufactured through the application of advanced asepsis manufacturing
technology which allows to reduce epinephrine contents, maintains stable pH values and provides
significant longer expiration date. Pierrel has developed its drug according to the recommendation of
the American Heart Association, reducing as much as possible, the amount of vasoconstrictor known to
be the cause of local or systemic toxicity. Its outstanding efficacy and safety profile has been already
confirmed by more than 12 Millions of cases treated with the drug in Europe.
The registration process for Pierrel Articaine in MENA Region is expected to be completed by Arwan
Pharmaceutical by July 2010.
Luigi Visani, Company CEO, commented: “After the recent FDA approval, we are pleased to
announce the imminent introduction in the MENA Region of our innovative Articaine” - he continues
- “and the agreement reached with a well reputed and aggressive company such as Arwan
Pharmaceutical is consistent with the clear cut strategy and the performance of Pierrel management to
introduce its innovative Articaine in as many as possible worldwide countries”.
Abdul Razzaq Yousef, Chairman of Arwan Pharmaceutical comments: “We are delighted to start a
business cooperation with Pierrel” - he continues - “as the recent Pierrel Articaine FDA approval is a
clear proof of the outstanding capabilities of the company to manufacture drugs with innovative
technologies and competitive advantages”.
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About Articaine:
Articaine is 4-methyl-3(2-[propylamino]propionamido)-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid, methyl ester hydrochloride
with a molecular weight of 320.84 . Articaine is the only amide local anaesthetic that contains a thiophene ring.
The thiophene ring of Articaine increases its lipophilicity and is highly diffusible allowing an effective tissue
penetration. This ensures the profound and prolonged maintenance of an active tissue concentration of the
anaesthetic, as well as minimizing the systemic absorption of both active compounds. Studies demonstrate that
the time of onset of anaesthesia is significantly lower than other current anaesthetics, from 1.5 to 1.8 minutes for
maxillary infiltration and from 1.4 to 3.6 minutes for inferior alveolar nerve block. Numerous studies confirm
that the anaesthetic effect of Articaine is effective in almost the totality of the patients. Articaine, thanks to its
unique characteristic, allows the patient not to return in the waiting room right after the injection while waiting
the anaesthetic to take effect and the dentist to start, therefore, therapeutic procedures in a very short time.
Articaine is the anaesthetic used the most by numerous European Dentists for all dental treatment of adults and
children patients with high risk. In countries like Germany Articaine is used in around the 90% of cases.
Articaine Pierrel, today available in Italy and Canada, has been already been used in more than 12 million cases,
confirming its optimal safety and effectiveness profile.
***
Pierrel S.p.A.
Pierrel S.p.A., a global provider to the pharmaceutical and life science industries, specialized in Research and
development (Contract Research) and production (Contract Manufacturing) of drug products, is listed in the
Italian Stock Exchange market. The Pierrel Group enjoys more than 50 years experience in the pharmaceutical
sector and is one of the main European manufacturers of dental anaesthetic drug products. The CRO division,
Pierrel Research, with about 20 subsidiaries operates both in Europe and USA, providing consultancies and full
services for research and development of new molecules and drug products. The manufacturing plant in Capua,
near Naples (Italy), has been authorized by FDA for the production of sterile small volumes parenteral drugs.
Pierrel S.p.A Corporate Office is located in Milan, Italy.
***
About Arwan Pharmaceutical Industries S.A.L
Arwan Pharmaceutical is a Pharma company focused in injectable products, as well as biotech products. The
company HQ is based in Lebanon with offices in Middle East Area countries and Africa as well as in Chicago in
charge of running US projects in order to obtain FDA approval. Arwan management have a long and vast
experience with an ambitious and aggressive plan for the introduction of the dental cartridges manufactured by
Pierrel Group for the Mena Area and Africa.
For further information
Pierrel S.p.A.
Investor Relator
Dott. Aurelio Matrone
Email: [email protected]
tel. +39 02 2413491
fax +39 02 24134201
Image Building
Simona Raffaelli, Valentina Burlando, Sara Spinetto
Tel. 02/89011300
E-mail: [email protected]