Celgene Announces Dismissal of Suit against Barr Laboratories Following Withdrawal of Thalidomide ANDA
SUMMIT, N.J., May 27, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) announced that as a result of Barr Laboratories, Inc., withdrawing its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for thalidomide with the US Food and Drug Administration, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey has granted the requested dismissal of all claims and counterclaims in the thalidomide patent cases.
Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation. For more information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.celgene.com.
Safety Notice
THALOMID(R) (thalidomide) Capsules 50 mg, 100 mg, & 200 mg
If thalidomide is taken during pregnancy, it can cause severe birth defects or death to an unborn baby. Thalidomide should never be used by women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant while taking the drug. Even a single dose, one capsule (50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg), taken by a pregnant woman can cause severe birth defects. Because thalidomide is present in the semen of male patients, males receiving thalidomide must always use a latex condom during sexual contact with women of childbearing potential even if he has undergone a successful vasectomy. Thalidomide can only be marketed under a special restricted distribution program. This program is called the "System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety (S.T.E.P.S.(R)). Under this program, only registered prescribers and pharmacists may dispense the drug. In addition, patients must be advised of, agree to and comply with the requirements of S.T.E.P.S.
Thalidomide is known to cause nerve damage that may be permanent. Peripheral neuropathy is a common, potentially severe, side effect of treatment with thalidomide that may be irreversible. Patients with neoplastic and various inflammatory conditions being treated with thalidomide in combination with other agents may have an increased incidence of thromboembolic events such as pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombophlebitis, thrombophlebitis, or thrombosis. Decreased white blood cell counts, including neutropenia, have been reported in the clinical use of thalidomide. In placebo controlled clinical trials of HIV-seropositive patient populations, there have been reports of increased plasma HIV RNA levels associated with thalidomide therapy. The most common adverse events observed in clinical use in ENL and HIV-seropositive patient populations are rash, maculo-papular rash, drowsiness/somnolence, peripheral neuropathy, dizziness/orthostatic hypotension, neutropenia, and increased HIV-viral load. Patients should be advised about these associated adverse events and routinely monitored by a physician during treatment with thalidomide. Patients should be instructed to not extensively handle or open thalidomide capsules and to maintain storage of capsules in blister packs until ingestion.
About THALOMID(R)
THALOMID (thalidomide) researched, developed and commercialized by Celgene Corporation, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on May 25, 2006 as an oral treatment in combination with dexamethasone for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. THALOMID received FDA clearance in 1998 for the acute treatment of cutaneous manifestations of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) and as maintenance therapy for prevention and suppression of the cutaneous manifestations of ENL recurrence. THALOMID is not indicated as monotherapy for ENL treatment in the presence of moderate to severe neuritis.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the Company's control. The Company's actual results, performance, or achievements could be materially different from those projected by these forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from the forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as the Company's Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: Celgene Corporation
Celgene CorporationDavid W. Gryska, 908-673-9059Senior Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerorCelgene CorporationTim Smith, 908-673-9951Director, Investor Relations