PENDOPHARM enters into an exclusive distribution agreement for the commercialisation rights to non-prescription Nasacort® Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone acetonide) in Canada

MONTREAL, June 12, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - PENDOPHARM, a division of Pharmascience Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Canada, announced today an agreement with Sanofi Canada concerning exclusive rights to market and distribute non-prescription Nasacort® Allergy 24HR on the Canadian market.

Nasacort® Allergy 24HR is used for the temporary relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis (including hay fever) and perennial rhinitis (year-round inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose) in adults and children 12 years of age and older.

Nasacort® Allergy 24HR is a strategic fit with the PENDOPHARM Cough & Cold franchise, and brings another innovative product to the PENDOPHARM portfolio with attractive therapeutic benefits for consumers. Sanofi Canada retains the rights to the prescription form of the drug, Nasacort® AQ (indicated for children between four and 12 years of age).

As the First-to-Market non-prescription Intranasal Steroid (INS) in Canada, Nasacort® Allergy 24HR is an important new addition to allergy remedies available without a prescription. The allergy segment, already a $400M category at retailⁱ, will grow thanks to Health Canada`s approval of the Rx-to-OTC switch of triamcinolone acetonide.

Twenty-five percent of the Canadian population suffers from allergies and the number of consumers is expected to increase dramatically. The allergy season continues to start earlier and last longer.ⁱⁱ

About Nasacort^® Allergy 24HR 

Nasacort® Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone acetonide aqueous) belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids. Nasacort® Allergy 24HR is used to temporarily relieve seasonal allergic rhinitis (including hay fever) and perennial rhinitis (year-round inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. Symptoms of these conditions include itchy nose, runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing.

Nasacort® Allergy 24HR reduces the irritation and inflammation in the lining of the nose and nasal passages and therefore it relieves nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose and sneezing. Nasacort® Allergy 24HR should not be used when allergic to any of its ingredients, and in patients with active or dormant tuberculosis, or untreated fungal, bacterial and viral infection.

Intranasal steroids like Nasacort® Allergy 24HR work differently than antihistamines because they stop more of the body's chemical responses that cause nasal allergy symptoms. This interrupts inflammation in the allergic cascade, treating both early-and-late phase reactions to address all allergic rhinitis symptoms, even congestion. It may take 2-3 days of daily use to feel maximum relief.

The medicinal ingredient is: triamcinolone acetonide. The nonmedicinal ingredients are: benzalkonium chloride, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium, dextrose, edetate, disodium, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80 and purified water.

Nasacort® Allergy 24HR is available in 2 sizes: a 60 spray bottle and a 120 spray bottle.

About PENDOPHARM, a Division of Pharmascience Inc.

PENDOPHARM is a division of Pharmascience Inc., a Canadian privately-owned company. Established in 1983, Pharmascience Inc. is Canada's 10th largest pharmaceutical company, with a highly-skilled workforce of 1,400 people. Pharmascience commercializes over 400 products, including branded prescription, OTC and BTC products as well as generic products in Canada and with its affiliates and distributors in over 60 countries worldwide.

Strategically committed to growth, PENDOPHARM is actively engaged in licensing, partnering, developing and marketing late-stage specialty prescription medicines as well as consumer brands. www.pendopharm.com 

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ⁱ ACN- National All channels – 52 weeks ending April 4, 2015 & IMS (Rx) MAT March 2015
ⁱⁱ The burden of allergic rhinitis (AR) in Canada: perspectives of physicians and patients Paul K Keith & Al. http://www.aacijournal.com/content/8/1/7

SOURCE Pharmascience Inc.

François David, Senior Director, Marketing, PENDOPHARM, a division of Pharmascience Inc., Tel: [phone] #3055, Email: [email protected]; Sean A. MacDonald, Advisor to the CEO, Business Development, PENDOPHARM, a division of Pharmascience Inc., Tel: [phone] #7686, [email protected]