SAN DIEGO, April 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:APRI), a pharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for men's and women's health, today announced that the Company, along with its European commercial partners, is sponsoring a symposium – "A New Paradigm in the Treatment of ED - The Topical Option" – during the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress. Vitaros® is Apricus' novel topical on-demand treatment for erectile dysfunction ("ED"), approved in Canada and nine countries in Europe. The symposium will take place in the Stockholmsmassan Exhibition & Convention Center, Room K2, on Friday, April 11 at 4:15 pm DST.
John P. Mulhall, M.D., Director, Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, will serve as symposium Chair. In addition to Dr. Mulhall, symposium speakers will include: Yacov Reisman, M.D., Amstelland Hospital, The Netherlands; François Giuliano, M.D., Ph.D., Raymond Poincaré Hospital, France, and Edward D. Kim. M.D., University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN. Dr. Kim was one of the principal investigators who conducted the Phase 3 clinical trials on Vitaros®.
Dr. Kim stated, "In this symposium, we will examine the current clinical care pathway for treating ED and how the introduction of Vitaros® may have a significant effect on the care of patients who are either unresponsive to or contraindicated for the current treatment paradigm. We look forward to reaching a large audience of clinicians at the EAU Congress, which is the leading forum for presenting advances in urology and sexual health in Europe."
About Vitaros®
Vitaros® is approved for the treatment of ED by a number of European health authorities and by Health Canada. The product is not yet approved in the United States. Vitaros® is a topically applied cream formulation of alprostadil, a vasodilator, combined with our proprietary permeation enhancer DDAIP.HCl, which directly increases blood flow to the penis, causing an erection. Alprostadil is a widely accepted alternative to the PDE-5 inhibitors for difficult to treat patients, and Vitaros®, which was determined to be safe and effective by the European health authorities and previously by Health Canada, offers greater market opportunity due to its patient-friendly form versus other alprostadil dosage forms and also relative to oral ED products. With nearly 150 million men worldwide who suffer from ED and an ED market size estimated at over $1 billion in revenue in Europe alone, Vitaros® represents a major market opportunity for Apricus and its commercial partners given its unique product profile and its potential to treat a large underserved population. Vitaros® is expected to be launched by Apricus' existing partners in Europe and Canada throughout 2014. Additionally, the Vitaros® Room Temperature Device is under development and is expected to further extend the usefulness of the product for patients.
About Apricus Biosciences, Inc.
Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (APRI) is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for men's and women's health. The Company's lead product, Vitaros®, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, is approved in several countries within Europe and in Canada and will be commercialized by Apricus' marketing partners, which include Abbott Laboratories Limited, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, Sandoz International GmbH, Recordati S.p.A., Bracco S.p.A. and Laboratoires Majorelle. The Company's second generation Vitaros® Room Temperature Device is under development and is expected to further enhance the products commercial value. Femprox®, the Company's product candidate for the treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder, has successfully completed an approximately 400-subject proof-of-concept study. The Company is currently seeking a strategic partner for Femprox®.
For further information on Apricus, visit http://www.apricusbio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended: with the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein described for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, its ability to further develop its product Vitaros® for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, such as the room temperature version of Vitaros® and product candidate Femprox® for the treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder among others, as well as the timing of such events; the timing of commercial launch of Vitaros® in Europe and Canada; to have its product and product candidates receive additional patent protection and be approved by the relevant regulatory authorities in Europe, the United States, Canada and in other countries, such as additional national phase approvals for Vitaros® in the remaining CMS territory, Spain; and the ability to achieve our other development, commercialization and financial goals, including the ability to out-license ex-US rights to Femprox®, develop a pipeline of products and product candidates and further complement our management team and/or board of directors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC. Copies of these reports are available from the SEC's website or without charge from the Company.