Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk and Pharmacia Corporation will take a licence under American Home Products patent rights with respect to Activella(TM) (oestradiol/norethindrone acetate tablets). Activella(TM) is a once daily tablet containing both oestrogen and progestogen and is approved for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, for treatment of vulvar and vaginal atrophy and for the prevention of osteoporosis. The worldwide agreement remains in effect until the American Home Products patent rights expire. Additional terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Earlier this year, Novo Nordisk outlicensed its hormone replacement therapy portfolio to Pharmacia for marketing in the US. The outlicensing agreement includes Activella(TM), Vagifem® (oestradiol vaginal tablet, USP-United States Pharmacopoeia) and Innofem(TM) (oestradiol tablet, USP). Activella(TM) will be available in the US by summer 2000.
The settlement with American Home Products will have a neutral impact on Novo Nordisk's financial results for 2000.
Novo Nordisk A/S is the world leader in insulin and diabetes care and also manufactures and markets a variety of other pharmaceutical products. Furthermore the company is the world's largest producer of enzymes for industrial use. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 15,200 people in 68 countries and markets its products in 179 countries. Its B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NVO". A demerger of Novo Nordisk with the intention to spin off the Enzyme Business into a separately listed company is expected to take place around the turn of the year 2000/2001. For further company information, visit Novo Nordisk on the World Wide Web at www.novo.dk.
For further information please contact:
Communications & Design
Media:
Søren Møller Christensen
Phone: (direct) (+45) 4442 1207
Søren Møller Christensen
Phone: (direct) (+45) 4442 1207
Media in North America:
Susan Toth Jackson
Phone: (+1) 212-867-0123
Susan Toth Jackson
Phone: (+1) 212-867-0123
Investors:
Michael Steen-Knudsen
Phone (Direct): (+45) 4442 6048
Michael Steen-Knudsen
Phone (Direct): (+45) 4442 6048
Investors in North America:
Peter Lundby Hansen
Phone: (+1) 212-878-9607
Peter Lundby Hansen
Phone: (+1) 212-878-9607