Valeant And Progenics Announce The U.S. Commercial Launch Of FDA-Approved Relistor® Tablets

On September 6, 2016 Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX and TSX: VRX) ("Valeant") and Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNX) ("Progenics") reported the U.S. commercial launch of RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) Tablets, which is now available for prescribing. RELISTOR Tablets (450 mg once daily) were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adults with chronic non-cancer pain on July 19, 2016.

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"We are very pleased to launch RELISTOR Tablets in the U.S. and provide an exceptional new treatment option for the millions of patients who suffer from extreme discomfort due to OIC," said Joseph C. Papa, Chief Executive Officer of Valeant. "This new method of delivery for RELISTOR offers healthcare professionals a novel alternative to address the treatment of OIC – a growing need in pain management – and demonstrates Valeant’s continued commitment to delivering innovative products that improve people’s lives."

In addition, RELISTOR Tablets will be highlighted during poster presentations at PAINWeek, the largest U.S. pain conference for frontline clinicians, in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 6-10. The posters will include the following:
Webster LR, Harper JR, Israel RJ. "Oral methylnaltrexone is efficacious and well tolerated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with chronic noncancer pain taking concomitant methadone." PAINWeek Poster, public viewing begins on
Thursday, September 8 at 12:30 p.m. PT.

Webster LR, Harper JR, Israel RJ. "Oral methylnaltrexone does not negatively impact analgesia in patients with opioid-induced constipation and chronic noncancer pain." PAINWeek Poster, public viewing begins on Thursday, September 8 at 12:30 p.m. PT.
The RELISTOR Tablets data will also be presented by Steven Simon, M.D., Professor of Pathology, University of Miami Health System, during a product theatre, "Opioid-Induced Constipation When Reliable and Rapid Relief Matters," on Friday, September 9 at 8 a.m. PT.

Important Safety Information about RELISTOR
RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) Tablets are contraindicated in patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction and patients at increased risk of recurrent obstruction, due to the potential for gastrointestinal perforation.
Cases of gastrointestinal perforation have been reported in adult patients with OIC and advanced illness with conditions that may be associated with localized or diffuse reduction of structural integrity in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., peptic ulcer disease, Ogilvie’s syndrome, diverticular disease, infiltrative gastrointestinal tract malignancies or peritoneal metastases). Take into account the overall risk-benefit profile when using RELISTOR in patients with these conditions or other conditions which might result in impaired integrity of the gastrointestinal tract wall (e.g., Crohn’s disease). Monitor for the development of severe, persistent, or worsening abdominal pain; discontinue RELISTOR in patients who develop this symptom.

If severe or persistent diarrhea occurs during treatment, advise patients to discontinue therapy with RELISTOR and consult their healthcare provider.

Symptoms consistent with opioid withdrawal, including hyperhidrosis, chills, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anxiety, and yawning have occurred in patients treated with RELISTOR.

Patients having disruptions to the blood-brain barrier may be at increased risk for opioid withdrawal and/or reduced analgesia. Take into account the overall risk-benefit profile when using RELISTOR in such patients. Monitor for adequacy of analgesia and symptoms of opioid withdrawal in such patients.

Avoid concomitant use of RELISTOR with other opioid antagonists because of the potential for additive effects of opioid receptor antagonism and increased risk of opioid withdrawal.

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 12%) in adult patients with opioid-induced constipation and chronic non-cancer pain receiving RELISTOR tablets were abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, abdominal distention, hyperhidrosis, anxiety, muscle spasms, rhinorrhea, and chills. Adverse reactions of abdominal pain, diarrhea, hyperhidrosis, anxiety, rhinorrhea, and chills may reflect symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

Please see complete Prescribing Information for RELISTOR at www.valeant.com. For more information about RELISTOR, please visit www.relistor.com.

About RELISTOR
Progenics has exclusively licensed development and commercialization rights for its first commercial product, RELISTOR, to Valeant. RELISTOR Tablets (450 mg once daily) is approved in the United States for the treatment of OIC in patients with chronic non-cancer pain. RELISTOR Subcutaneous Injection (12 mg and 8 mg) is a treatment for opioid-induced constipation approved in the United States and worldwide for patients with advanced illness and chronic non-cancer pain.