PHARMACEUTICAL
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FDA approves Irvine-based ISTA's eye drop therapy
Pharmaceutical firm plans to launch product in Q4; expects to see revenue this year.
By Kristen SchottPublished: September 08, 2009 09:46 AM
Irvine-based ISTA Pharmaceuticals' eye drop treatment Bepreve this week received FDA approval to treat ocular itching from allergic conjunctivitis.
"Bepreve offers a new, safe and effective way to treat the itching
caused by ocular allergies," says Vicente Anido Jr., Ph.D., president and CEO of ISTA. "We expect to have Bepreve
available to ophthalmologists and patients in the United States in the
fourth quarter of 2009."
It's good news for the pharmaceutical company, which believes it will begin to garner revenue from the product this year, according to Anido.
What's more, the company is also upping its sales staff in an effort to finish out the year with strong product revenues from Bepreve, as well as its other therapies. The company expects to increase its sales force nationwide by 60 percent, up from its current 103 representatives.
Bepreve is a twice-daily prescription treatment for patients 2 years of age or older with allergic conjunctivitis, as opposed to viral or bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye). The company performed clinical studies of the product to evaluate the safety, efficacy, onset and duration of the drug's effects. Two Phase III double-masked, placebo-controlled conjunctival allergen challenge studies found that Bepreve did in fact reduce ocular itching, and its rapid reaction provided quick relief.
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"Bepreve offers a new, safe and effective way to treat the itching caused by ocular allergies," says Vicente Anido Jr., Ph.D., president and CEO of ISTA. "We expect to have Bepreve available to ophthalmologists and patients in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2009." It's good news for the pharmaceutical company, which believes it will begin to garner revenue from the product this year, according to Anido. What's more, the company is also upping its sales staff in an effort to finish out the year with strong product revenues from Bepreve, as well as its other therapies. The company expects to increase its sales force nationwide by 60 percent, up from its current 103 representatives. Bepreve is a twice-daily prescription treatment for patients 2 years of age or older with allergic conjunctivitis, as opposed to viral or bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye). The company performed clinical studies of the product to evaluate the safety, efficacy, onset and duration of the drug's effects. Two Phase III double-masked, placebo-controlled conjunctival allergen challenge studies found that Bepreve did in fact reduce ocular itching, and its rapid reaction provided quick relief. NEXT PAGE >> Related headlines Irvine's Spectrum Pharmaceuticals gets FDA nod for cancer therapy Orange's St. Joseph Hospital debuts revolutionary procedure 'OC METRO Minute,' Sept. 3: Visiogen set to be acquired by Abbot for $400 million |
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