FAIRFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2006--Unigene
Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB: UGNE) has entered into an exclusive
distribution agreement with Tzamal Bio Pharma Ltd. to distribute its
Fortical(R) nasal spray in Israel for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Tzamal will pay Unigene a fixed price per each unit of product it
receives and has guaranteed minimum sales levels for the first three
years following the product launch. Tzamal is also responsible for
registering the product with the Israeli Ministry of Health, a process
that normally requires 6-12 months, and they will reference Unigene's
2005 U.S. approval to facilitate the regulatory review process.
"We are very happy to be the exclusive distributor of Fortical in
Israel," commented Eddy Steinberg, General Manager of Tzamal Bio
Pharma. "We believe that the product will be well received as a safe
alternative to the currently marketed osteoporosis therapies."
"This is a part of our broader strategy to introduce Fortical into
additional territories and we feel that Tzamal is well positioned to
maximize the product's market penetration in Israel," said Dr. Ronald
S. Levy, Unigene's Executive Vice President. "Once the product is
approved, we will be supplying them with the identical units that we
currently market in the U.S."
About Unigene
Unigene Laboratories, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focusing
on the oral and nasal delivery of large-market peptide drugs. Due to
the size of the worldwide osteoporosis market, Unigene is targeting
its initial efforts on developing calcitonin and PTH-based therapies.
Fortical(R), Unigene's nasal calcitonin product for the treatment of
postmenopausal osteoporosis, received FDA approval and was launched in
August 2005. Unigene has licensed the U.S. rights for Fortical to
Upsher-Smith Laboratories, worldwide rights for its oral PTH
technology to GlaxoSmithKline and worldwide rights for its calcitonin
manufacturing technology to Novartis. Unigene's patented oral delivery
technology has successfully delivered, in preclinical and/or clinical
trials, various peptides including calcitonin, PTH and insulin.
Unigene's patented manufacturing technology is designed to
cost-effectively produce peptides in quantities sufficient to support
their worldwide commercialization as oral or nasal therapeutics. For
more information about Unigene, call (973) 882-0860 or visit
www.unigene.com. For information about Fortical, visit
www.fortical.com.
About Tzamal Pharma
Tzamal Pharma is a privately owned sales and marketing
organization for Middle Eastern territories. Tzamal is committed to
providing hospitals and healthcare funds with high quality
pharmaceuticals for defined therapeutic fields such as cancer,
infertility and metabolic diseases. For more information, visit
www.tzamal-medical.co.il.
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Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking
statements regarding us and our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects. Such forward-looking statements include
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targets or future development and/or otherwise are not statements of
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CONTACT: The Investor Relations Group
Damian McIntosh / Dian Griesel, 212-825-3210
or
Media:
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SOURCE: Unigene Laboratories, Inc.
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