If approved by the FDA, Emezine, a dissolving tablet placed between the lip and gum (also known as the buccal area), may avoid the need for a patient to swallow a product during a period of nausea, which Accentia believes, offers a more patient-friendly alternative to injections and rectal suppositories.
As previously announced Accentia signed a licensing agreement with Emezine's developer, BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. for the exclusive sales and marketing rights for the US market and its territories. Emezine, upon approval, will be marketed through Accentia's specialty pharmaceutical division, TEAMM Pharmaceuticals.
Nausea and vomiting are commonly reported symptoms in the US and can be the result of a wide number of diseases or as a side effect of some treatments. Some of the most common treatment-induced causes of emesis are a result of chemotherapy, pain medications, antibiotics and anesthesia used in surgical procedures. Nausea and vomiting also often accompany migraines, flu, stomach ailments such as gastroenteritis or motion sickness. In addition to the impact on quality of life, severe emesis can lead to serious consequences of electrolyte imbalances and dehydration.
Gary Cantrell, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Accentia's specialty pharmaceuticals division said, "Prochlorperazine is widely used for the relief of nausea and vomiting however physicians outside the hospital and clinic have been limited to prescribing a suppository or standard oral swallow tablet. In our market research, physicians responded very favorably to Emezine and indicated that it would be an important part of their treatment options for patients experiencing emesis."
About Accentia Biopharmaceuticals
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of late-stage clinical products in the therapeutic areas of respiratory disease and oncology. The company's SinuNase
About BioDelivery Sciences International
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDSI) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that is exploiting its licensed and patented drug delivery technologies to develop and commercialize, either on its own or in partnerships with third parties, clinically-significant new formulations of proven therapeutics targeted at "acute" treatment opportunities such as pain, anxiety, nausea and vomiting and infections. The company's drug delivery technologies include: (i) the patented Bioral® nanocochleate technology, designed for a potentially broad base of applications, and (ii) the patented BEMA
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Emezine and any other statements relating to Accentia's products, product candidates, and product development programs. Such statement may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as "may," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Accentia's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of Accentia's clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval for product candidates; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and the additional risks discussed in Accentia's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Accentia undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Contact:
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Tampa
Sherran Brewer, 866-481-9020
sbrewer@accentia.net