Versatis® lidocaine medicated plaster approved by MHRA

Aachen, Germany (ots) - In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Versatis®, a novel 5 %
lidocaine medicated plaster, for the treatment of neuropathic pain
associated with previous herpes zoster infection (post-herpetic
neuralgia, PHN), developed by the German drug company Grünenthal.

Following this national approval of Versatis® and its national
launch on January, 8th, the UK will become Reference Member State for
the registration procedure for other European countries.

Versatis offers a topical and non-systemic approach for the
treatment of typically localized neuropathic pain symptoms associated
with PHN, often described as burning, shooting or stabbing. It is a
combination of lidocaine in a soft hydrogel plaster combining
efficacious treatment with proven tolerability, safety and simple
handling.

"Nerve pain is personally disastrous for the people who experience
it", said Rob Koremans, MD, Member of the Executive Board of
Grünenthal GmbH. "Grünenthal is highly committed to improve the
quality of life of those patients. Versatis® offers a novel treatment
option which is effective where it hurts but with a reassuring safety
profile. With Versatis® our company will establish its business in
the United Kingdom, a key market for every global pharmaceutical
company."

The lidocaine medicated plaster offers rapid and continuous pain
relief 30 minutes after application. Following a once daily 12hours
on/12 hours off application schedule, up to three plasters can be
used at one time. It is suitable for stand alone therapy or in
combination with other medications.

Since 1999, a lidocaine plaster has been marketed in the USA,
under the trade name Lidoderm®, by Endo Pharmaceuticals, where more
than one million patients have been treated. In Europe, Grünenthal
has developed the lidocaine medicated plaster under the trade name
Versatis®.

About Grünenthal

Grünenthal researches, develops and produces high therapeutic
value medicines and markets them throughout the world. Grünenthal is
an expert in drugs for pain therapy and gynaecology and a leader in
the field of intelligent, user-friendly drug delivery technologies.
Grünenthal is an independent, family-owned company with a long
history of international co-operations. The company was founded in
1946 and has its headquarters in Germany. We supply our markets from
seven production sites around the world and have affiliates in 27
countries. Grünenthal employs about 1,900 people in Germany and about
4,700 world-wide. Sales in 2005 amounted to approximately 777 million
Euro.

Originaltext: Grünenthal GmbH
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Contact:
Anke Krüger-Hellwig
Phone: +49 241 569-2858, Fax: +49 241 569-1486
anke.krueger-hellwig@grunenthal.com
Grünenthal GmbH, 52099 Aachen, Germany, www.grunenthal.com