Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces That Novartis Licenses Iloperidone To Vanda Pharmaceuticals
09 Juin 2004 - 3:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces That Novartis Licenses Iloperidone
To Vanda Pharmaceuticals Vanda to Complete Iloperidone Development
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Titan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ASE:TTP) today announced that Vanda
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has acquired the worldwide rights to develop
and commercialize iloperidone, Titan's proprietary antipsychotic
agent in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of
schizophrenia and related disorders, from Novartis Pharma AG. Vanda
is a pharmaceutical development company headquartered in Rockville,
Maryland, founded by its Chairman, Dr. Argeris N. Karabelas,
formerly CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and its CEO, Dr. Mihael
Polymeropoulos, former Vice President of Pharmacogenetics at
Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Under the license agreement from
Novartis, Vanda will pursue completion of the iloperidone Phase III
development program and product registration. All of Titan's rights
and economic interests in iloperidone, including royalties on sales
of iloperidone, remain unchanged under the license agreement. "We
are very pleased that Vanda will now move forward to continue Phase
III clinical testing of iloperidone," stated Dr. Louis R. Bucalo,
Chairman, President and CEO of Titan. "We believe Vanda has the
expertise to pursue the successful completion of iloperidone
development. With the implementation of this agreement," continued
Dr. Bucalo, "Titan re-establishes an important Phase III clinical
program, and now has six proprietary products in clinical testing."
Approximately 1% of the world's population, 45 million people in
total, suffer from schizophrenia. Many patients also suffer from
difficult side effects, including significant weight gain, movement
disorders and cognitive dysfunction from current therapies. About
Titan Pharmaceuticals TITAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (ASE:TTP) is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of novel treatments for central nervous system
disorders, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Titan's numerous
products in development utilize novel technologies that have the
potential to significantly improve the treatment of these diseases.
Titan also establishes partnerships with multinational
pharmaceutical companies and government institutions for the
development of its products. The press release may contain
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited
to, any statements relating to the Company's development program
and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to difficulties
or delays in development, testing, regulatory approval, production
and marketing of the Company's drug candidates, unexpected adverse
side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's
drug candidates that could slow or prevent product development or
commercialization, the uncertainty of patent protection for the
Company's intellectual property or trade secrets and the Company's
ability to obtain additional financing if necessary. Such
statements are based on management's current expectations, but
actual results may differ materially due to various factors,
including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in
this press release. DATASOURCE: Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Company - Robert Farrell, Executive Vice President &
CFO of Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-244-4990, or
Media/Investors - Jonathan Fassberg of The Trout Group,
+1-212-477-9077
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