Aloxi - Product launch

RNS Number:6841N
Maelor PLC
11 February 2008


11th February 2008

                     Maelor plc ("Maelor" or the "Company")

               Maelor Launches Aloxi(R) (palonosetron) in the UK

MAELOR PLC (AIM:MLR), the specialist hospital medicines group is pleased to
announce, ahead of schedule, the UK launch of Aloxi(R), a new generation
treatment for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

Aloxi(R), which is licensed from HELSINN HEALTHCARE SA, a Swiss pharmaceutical
group, is a patented second generation 5-HT3 antagonist, differentiated by its
strength on initiation and the duration of its activity. It obtained a
centralised registration in Europe in 2005, with an indication for the
prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer
chemotherapy and the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with
moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy.

Aloxi(R) is being successfully marketed in 40 countries, with annual sales in
2006 of $323M worldwide, according to IMS figures. The UK 5-HT3 market is £50
million according to IMS figures at September 2007.

"We are delighted with the progress that has been made by Maelor since we signed
our agreement with them on 29th October 2007 for distribution of Aloxi(R) in the
UK that has resulted in a launch ahead of schedule.  We are very excited about
working with such a committed and professional partner in Maelor to deliver the
benefits of Aloxi(R) to the UK patients and medical community", said Dr.
Riccardo Braglia, CEO of HELSINN HEALTHCARE SA.

Tim Wright, CEO of Maelor commented:

"We are very pleased to be able to announce the launch of Aloxi(R), ahead of
schedule. The launch of this unique anti-emetic treatment is directly in line
with our core strategy of acquiring late stage and launched specialist hospital
medicines and rapidly growing them, as we have demonstrated with our plasma
substitute brand, Volplex.

Today's launch is the first in a rich pipeline of forthcoming specialist
hospital brand launches, which will continue to drive Maelor's strong earnings
performance."

                                    - Ends -


About Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)

CINV is estimated to potentially affect 85% of cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy and can result in a delay or discontinuation of chemotherapy
treatments. The supportive care area is becoming of paramount importance to help
patients deal with adverse events of anti-cancer therapies, such as
chemotherapy. With good supportive care drugs, cancer patients are able to
tolerate the anti-cancer treatment to a greater extent, improving the chances of
completing their treatment course successfully and with a better quality of
life.

About Aloxi(R)

Aloxi(R) is a selective 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, developed for the prevention
of CINV, with a long half-life of 40 hours and at least 30 times higher receptor
binding affinity than currently available compounds. In practice this means that
Aloxi(R) only needs to be given once per chemotherapy treatment cycle in
comparison with competitor products which need to be given several times. Since
its availability in USA in September 2003, there have been over 6.9 million
successful uses of Aloxi(R). The product has shown to be effective in preventing
both acute and delayed CINV in patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapies. For
more information about this product please visit our website: www.aloxi.com.

About HELSINN HEALTHCARE

HELSINN HEALTHCARE SA is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with
headquarters in Switzerland and is the worldwide licensor of Aloxi(R). HELSINN's
core business is the licensing of pharmaceuticals in niche therapeutic areas.
The company's business strategy is to in-license early-stage new chemical
entities and complete their development from the performance of pre-clinical/
clinical studies and CMC development to the attainment of market approvals in
strategic markets (U.S. and Europe). HELSINN's products are eventually
out-licensed to its worldwide consolidated network of partners for distribution.
The active pharmaceutical ingredients and the drug products are manufactured at
HELSINN's cGMP facilities and supplied worldwide to its customers. HELSINN's
chemical business focuses on the pharmaceutical chemical process development and
manufacturing of advanced intermediates, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
(APIs) and High Potency Active Ingredients (HPAIs) for both the HELSINN group
and its outsourcing partners. For more information about HELSINN, please visit
www.helsinn.com.



Enquiries HELSINN:

Helsinn Healthcare S.A.              Tel: [phone] /[e-mail]
Paolo Ferrari - Head of Marketing, Oncology & Cancer Supportive Care, Commercial
Operations



About MAELOR

Maelor plc (AIM:MLR) is a fast growing specialist hospital medicines group,
which is traded on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM").  The strategy of
the Group is to grow by combining the acquisition of products and companies with
the dynamic development and marketing of these assets. With a focus in the
specialist hospital sector, Maelor leverages its expertise in both
pharmaceuticals and medical devices to drive growth. Based in the UK, Maelor
commercialises its portfolio in the UK directly.  Maelor also operates
internationally through a strong network of distributors.  Currently focused in
the areas of critical care, neurology and oncology, some of Maelor's leading
brands include:

Critical Care:  Volpex(R) (plasma substitute), Cryogesic(R) / Dermogesic(TM)
(cryo-analgesic), Haemopressin(R) (oesophageal varices), ISOplex(R) (isotonic
plasma substitute)

Neurology: Mysoline(R) (primidone), a product currently used to treat Epilepsy
and which Maelor are developing for management of Essential Tremor, a
distressing condition affecting an estimated 1 in 25 over 40 year olds for which
primidone is one of only two recommended treatments.

Oncology: Cryogesic(R), 5 FU (oral chemotherapeutic) and most recently, Aloxi(R)
(chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting)

Products which are outside of the Group's core hospital focus or are in early
stage of research are out-licensed, including the successful OptiFlo(TM)  
Catheter Maintenance Solutions, a trademark of C.R. Bard Inc or an affiliate 
(to Bard Limited) and Micelle Nanotechnology, an early stage product for 
interstitial cystitis (to Plethora Solutions Limited). To find out more about 
Maelor go to www.maelor.plc.uk.

Enquiries MAELOR:

Maelor plc                                              Tel: [phone]
Tim Wright - CEO   www.maelor.plc.uk

Financial Dynamics Limited                              Tel: [phone]
Billy Clegg / Edward Westropp

Noble & Company Limited                                 Tel: [phone]
Matthew Hall / Sam Reynolds



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