Ipsen gout treatment launches in Europe

Ipsen and Menarini’s new treatment for gout has been released in France ahead of its planned launch across the rest of Europe.

The collaboratively-developed Adenuric, a once-daily medication for chronic hyperuricemia in gout sufferers, will also be co-promoted by the two companies.

This represents the first therapeutic alternative for gout treatment to be released in decades, with launches in the UK, Ireland and Germany planned in the near future.

Etienne de Blois, deputy general manager of Ipsen’s France operations, expressed pride at the European debut of a drug which it believes represents a significant medical advance.

He said: “The launch of Adenuric will provide patients and physicians with a new treatment alternative for a condition with high unmet medical needs.”

Last week, Ipsen published its financial report for the full 2009 fiscal year, noting an increase in both its drug and specialty care product sales despite the effects of the wider global recession.