Novartis Animal Health Adds Adequan® Equine To Its Veterinary Line In The UK

Novartis Animal Health, Inc. announced that it will market and distribute Adequan® Equine in the UK beginning in early January 2011. This follows a successful NAH launch of the product in Canada. Adequan Equine offers equine veterinarians a proven intramuscular treatment option for equine degenerative joint disease, also known as non-infectious arthritis or osteoarthritis. The product is licensed in the UK for the treatment of lameness in horses due to traumatic or degenerative aseptic joint disease and acute superficial digital flexor tendonitis. This is a critical treatment area since equine degenerative joint disease is estimated to cause up to one-third of all equine lameness cases1. It most commonly affects the hocks and coffin joints with the most severe effects on the high-motion knee and fetlock joints. "Adequan Equine is a leading joint treatment for horses and is widely used by veterinarians in the equine sport industry," said Esther Rawlinson, veterinarian and Global Technical Services Manager for the Novartis Animal Health Companion Animal Business in the Therapeutics & Equine areas. "Adequan Equine reduces pain and lameness in horses while at the same time stimulating cartilage repair. Novartis are pleased to be distributing this product in the UK as an effective treatment option for equine joint injury." Bringing Adequan Equine into the NAH portfolio provides an anchor brand for establishing a presence in the equine market. "Novartis Animal Health has a strong position in orthopedic pain management for companion animals in markets around the world," said Mark Collinson, Country Head of Novartis Animal Health in the UK. "Adequan Equine extends this expertise into horses, building on our established presence in the canine and feline pain management markets." Adequan Equine 100mg/ml solution contains polysulphated glycosaminoglycan for intramuscular injection. It is a chondroprotective, meaning it inhibits the breakdown of cartilage in diseased joints while at the same time supporting its repair. Adequan Equine works by blocking the destructive enzymes formed in the joint as a result of inflammation while stimulating the production of hyaluronic acid to restore the synovial fluid, and the synthesis of cartilage building compounds. Novartis Animal Health is assuming the UK marketing and distribution rights for Adequan Equine in an agreement with Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. This agreement between Novartis and Luitpold builds on the collaboration that began with Adequan® Canine in the US. That success is being extended with the addition of marketing rights to Adequan Equine across a wide geography, including Europe, Asia, Latin America and Canada. Luitpold will continue to market Adequan Equine in the US. About Adequan® Adequan is a registered trademark of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Advice on the use of this or alternative medicines must be sought from the medicine prescriber. Use medicines responsibly. Legal category: POM-V

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