Shire Human Genetic Therapies AB Signs Exclusive Marketing and Distribution Deal with Samaritan to Launch REPLAGAL® for Fabry Disease in Greece and Cyprus Tuesday May 22, 2007, 9:37 am ET Return to Homepage | See All News

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTC BB:SPHC.OB), a developer of innovative drugs, is pleased to announce it has signed a second exclusive marketing and distribution agreement, with Shire Human Genetic Therapies AB to launch and sell REPLAGAL(r) (agalsidase alfa), a European approved drug, for Fabry Disease, in Greece and Cyprus. Since August 2001, REPLAGAL(r) has been approved for commercial use in 41 countries, including the 27 countries of the European Union but not in the U.S., and will be sold and distributed exclusively by Samaritan in Greece and Cyprus. As approval, pricing and reimbursement are already established, Samaritan expects to launch REPLAGAL(r) in Greece and Cyprus immediately. Dr. Greeson, CEO of Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, stated, ``We are really looking forward to having another revenue-generating product to launch, and sell, in Greece and Cyprus. Although we predict most revenues from the sales of our ten in-licensed products to be small at the beginning, we are ambitiously striving to eventually have our growing in-licensed product portfolio generate enough revenue to position Samaritan as a financially self-sustaining biopharmaceutical company.'' REPLAGAL(r) is a long-term enzyme replacement therapy used to treat patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Fabry Disease.

“We are really looking forward to having another revenue-generating product to launch, and sell, in Greece and Cyprus. Although, we predict most revenues from the sales of our ten in-licensed products to be small at the beginning, we are ambitiously striving to eventually have our growing in-licensed product portfolio; generate enough revenue, to position Samaritan as a financially self-sustaining biopharmaceutical company.” - Dr. Janet Greeson C.E.O. of Samaritan Pharmaceuticals

Fabry Disease is caused by a deficiency of an enzyme, alpha-galactosidase A (also called ceramidetrihexosidase), involved in the breakdown of fats.Since fat doesn't break down properly, part of it (globotriaosylceramide, also called Gb3 or GL-3) accumulates in the blood, blood vessels, and organs of the body and causes damage, in particular kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke. Like all medicines, REPLAGAL can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most side effects are mild to moderate. About 1 out of 7 patients may have a reaction during or following an infusion of REPLAGAL. These effects include chills, headache, nausea, fever, facial flushing (redness) and tiredness. However some effects may be serious and may need treatment.

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals:
“Transforming Today’s Science Into Tomorrow’s Cures…”

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an entrepreneurial biopharmaceutical company, focused on commercializing innovative therapeutic products to relieve the suffering of patients with Alzheimer's disease, Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, HIV, and Hepatitis-C. Samaritan, in collaboration with Pharmaplaz, Ireland, is advancing SP-01A, an “oral” HIV viral-entry inhibitor, to late stage clinical trials in Europe since it has completed Phase IIb clinical studies with positive results in the US. Samaritan has three drug candidates in nonclinical studies to develop IND applications, it’s building upon the IND application for Caprospinol, SP-233, to treat Alzheimer's disease patients; evaluating the use of SP-1000 for acute coronary disease patients; and the use of SP-10T1 as an "oral treatment" for Hepatitis-C patients. In addition, Samaritan has acquired the marketing and sales rights to sell ten revenue-generating products in Greece and/or various Eastern European countries.

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Disclaimer
The company disclaims any information that is created by an outside party and endorses only information that is communicated by its press releases, filings and Website. This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current beliefs about the potential for its drug candidates, science and technology. However, as with any biopharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks and uncertainties in the process of development and regulatory review. There are no guarantees that products will prove to be commercially successful. For additional information about the factors that affect the company's business, please read the company's latest Form 10-K filed April 13, 2007. The company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.