Press Release.
Plenaxis® is the first GnRH antagonist, a new class of hormone treatment which gives physicians added control of prostate cancer.
London, 25 February. Speciality European Pharma (SEP) today announced the launch of Plenaxis® in Germany. Plenaxis® is used to treat advanced and metastatic hormone responsive prostate cancer and it causes a rapid and sustained decline in testosterone levels, thereby giving quick control of prostate cancer symptoms. Once the disease is under control, the physician can choose to either keep the patient on Plenaxis® or to stop treatment and recommence once there is evidence of disease activity returning. This is attractive because, on stopping treatment with Plenaxis® the patient’s testosterone levels will return to the normal range whilst the disease remains under control. In addition to the quick control of testosterone, Plenaxis avoids any testosterone flare and removes the need for concomitant use of anti-androgen therapy.
Commenting on the launch of Plenaxis®, Geoff McMillan, the CEO of SEP, said “Plenaxis® is an important product, both for SEP and for sufferers of prostate cancer. Plenaxis is the first new type of hormone treatment for prostate cancer to be introduced for many years and it gives patients and physicians added control of this disease”.
Ken Watters, Chief Medical Officer of SEP added that “prostate cancer is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in males over 50 years old. The emerging treatment modalities are especially suited to Plenaxis® with it’s rapid and sustained disease control and quick testosterone recovery”.
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About SEP:
Founded in April 2006, SEP acquired Proreo Pharma International in December 2006 and with it rights to Haemopressin®, a product sold in several European and international markets for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices. In January 2007 SEP acquired world-wide rights to Plenaxis®, the world’s first approved GNRH antagonist for the treatment of prostate cancer. In July 2007 SEP announced that it had secured rights for Amphocil®, a treatment for life threatening fungal infections, in Germany, Italy and France. SEP is backed by Advent Venture Partners.
About Advent Venture Partners:
Advent Venture Partners (“Advent Ventures”) is one of the most experienced venture capital firms in the UK. Established in 1981 it invests in both the Life Science and Technology sectors. Advent Ventures has raised over £1 billion from institutional investors across Europe and the USA since 1998. It has backed around 60 life science companies of which, to date, 19 have obtained public listings and a further 9 companies have been sold, including PowderMed (to Pfizer) and KuDOS Pharmaceuticals (to AstraZeneca).
Investments by the Advent Ventures Life Sciences team include Norwegian radiopharmaceuticals company Algeta; Dutch gene-medicine company Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics; UK-based Thiakis, which develops hormone-based treatments for obesity; and the Swiss therapeutic antibody company 4-Antibody.
