Grünenthal GmbH extends licensing agreement with Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. for tapentadol in Japan

Aachen, Germany (ots) - Grünenthal GmbH announced that it
has extended a licensing agreement with Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical,
Inc. for tapentadol to include the Japanese market. Ortho-McNeil
Pharmaceutical plans to arrange for the development of tapentadol for
marketing in Japan. Ortho-McNeil´s affiliate, Janssen Pharmaceutical
K.K., a leading provider of prescription medicines in Japan,
including pain medicines, will conduct such activities. Grünenthal
will be responsible for the commercial supply of tapentadol for
Japan.

Tapentadol (CG5503/ R331333) is a novel, investigational,
centrally acting analgesic with a dual mode of action for the
treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. Phase III studies of tapentadol
have recently been initiated in the United States and in Europe.
Tapentadol is the latest innovation coming out of Grünenthal R&D
pipeline. It enriches the portfolio of pain products developed and
marketed by Grünenthal.

"This agreement for the Japanese market is another milestone
achieved in our work with Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical and moves us
toward global development and commercialization of tapentadol,"
stated Prof. Dr. Eric-Paul Pâques, Member of the Executive Board of
Grünenthal GmbH.

Grünenthal and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical began working together
on tapentadol in February 2003 with a licensing agreement for the
United States and Canada. The companies are co-developing tapentadol
in the United States, Canada and the European Union.

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.

About Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Janssen
Pharmaceutical, K.K. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., is based in
Raritan, New Jersey, U.S.A. Its affiliate company, Janssen
Pharmaceutical, K.K., based in Tokyo, Japan, provides
analgesic/anaesthesiology, central nervous system, mycosis, cancer,
and biologic products in Japan.

Originaltext: Grünenthal GmbH
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Pressekontakt:
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