Connetics Corporation (NASDAQ: CNCT), a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes dermatology products, today announced the nationwide U.S. commercial launch of Verdeso™ (desonide) Foam, 0.05%, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and children as young as three months of age. Verdeso, a low-potency topical steroid, is the first commercial product formulated in Connetics’ proprietary VersaFoam-EF™ emulsion formulation foam vehicle, and is the first Connetics product to include a pediatric indication. Verdeso is available in 50g and 100g trade unit sizes.
“Our trained and highly motivated sales force has introduced Verdeso to dermatologists and pediatricians,” said Tom Carey, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for Connetics. “The launch is supported with patient education materials, product samples, physician speaker programs and an innovative marketing campaign designed to emphasize the value that Verdeso brings to physicians and their patients. In addition to the considerable efforts of our sales organization, our marketing team has designed a creative journal advertising campaign, direct mail programs and an interactive web site, www.Verdeso.com, designed to educate healthcare professionals and their patients.”
Greg Vontz, President and Chief Operating Officer for Connetics, said, “Verdeso provides a great opportunity for our sales force to leverage the reputation of our leading LuxÃq® and OLUX® brands, both of which are formulated in VersaFoam®, by demonstrating the advantages of our new VersaFoam-EF technology to a large market. The VersaFoam-EF vehicle is designed to be non-stinging and contains ingredients with moisturizing properties that we believe will lead to increased patient satisfaction and compliance, and accelerated adoption of Verdeso. We also believe Verdeso will be particularly appealing to the pediatric market.”
The launch of Verdeso allows Connetics to offer a complete range of potencies in topical steroids, including mid-potency LuxÃq and super high-potency OLUX, and to address the full $1.1 billion topical steroid market. Approximately 7.7 million prescriptions are written annually in the U.S. by dermatologists for low-potency steroid products, and desonide is the leading topical corticosteroid in this market.
About Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD), commonly referred to as eczema, is a chronic skin disorder characterized by scaly and itchy rashes. People with atopic dermatitis often have a family history of allergic conditions such as asthma, hay fever or eczema. AD is most common in infants, and at least half of those cases clear by age three. In adults AD generally is a chronic, or recurring, condition. In AD a hypersensitivity reaction (similar to an allergy) occurs in the skin, causing chronic inflammation. The inflammation causes the skin to become itchy and scaly. Chronic irritation and scratching can cause the skin to thicken and develop a leathery texture. Exposure to environmental irritants can worsen symptoms, as can dryness of the skin, exposure to water, temperature changes and stress. Symptoms of AD can include intense itching, blisters with oozing and crusting, skin redness or inflammation around the blisters, and rash.
About Connetics
Connetics Corporation is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for the dermatology market. The Company’s commercial products are OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%; LuxÃq (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%; Soriatane® (acitretin) capsules; Evoclin® (clindamycin) Foam, 1%; and Verdeso (desonide) Foam, 0.05%. Connetics is developing Primolux™ (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%, a super high-potency topical steroid formulation to treat atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis; Extina® (ketoconazole) Foam, 2%, to treat seborrheic dermatitis; and Velac® (a combination of 1% clindamycin and 0.025% tretinoin) Gel, to treat acne. Connetics’ product formulations are designed to improve the management of dermatological diseases and provide significant product differentiation. For more information about Connetics and its products, please visit www.connetics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Connetics expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, particularly, statements about sales opportunities associated with Verdeso, Verdeso’s impact on patient satisfaction and compliance, patient adoption of Verdeso, Verdeso’s appeal to the pediatric market, and the timing and outcome of submissions to the FDA, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by Connetics’ management based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Connetics’ control, and which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks and other factors that are discussed in documents filed by Connetics with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Connetics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Forward-looking statements represent the judgment of the Company’s management as of the date of this release, and Connetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Press release code: CNCT-G
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