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Emselex Endorsement
Emselex Endorsement.
About this update from Aura Renewable Acquisitions Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n Ardana PLC\n11 June 2007\n\n ARDANA ANNOUNCES POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF EMSELEX(R) BY SCOTTISH MEDICINES\n CONSORTIUM\n\n\n\nEdinburgh, UK, 11 June 2007: Ardana plc (LSE:ARA), today announces a positive\nopinion from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) about Emselex (darifenacin\nhydrobromide). Emselex is a once a day oral treatment for the symptoms of\noveractive bladder (OAB). A positive opinion by the SMC is essential for the\nintroduction of new therapies within NHS Scotland.\n\n\n\nThe OAB market in the UK is currently estimated to be approximately £90 million\nper annum, of which Scotland contributes £10.5 million (IMS Health).\n\n\n\nDr. Maureen Lindsay, Chief Executive of Ardana, said: 'We are delighted that the\nSMC assessment of Emselex has been favourable. This will help us to continue to\ngain acceptance for Emselex as an important new treatment option for patients\nwith OAB' .\n\n\n\nEmselex was launched in October of last year and is marketed in collaboration\nwith Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited ('Novartis').\n\n\n\nEmselex(R) works by selectively inhibiting the muscarinic M3 receptor, the\nprimary mediator of detrusor muscle contraction. Symptoms of OAB include urinary\nurgency (a sudden and compelling desire to pass urine, which is difficult to\ndefer) with, or without, urge urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage\naccompanied or immediately preceded by urgency), usually with urinary frequency\n(voiding the bladder too often), and nocturia (waking at night one or more times\nto void the bladder).\n\n\n\nAntimuscarinic drugs are often used to treat patients who present with symptoms\nof OAB, although other therapies such as bladder retraining may also be\neffective for some patients.\n\n\n\nIn common with other recently introduced antimuscarinic treatments for OAB, the\npositioning of Emselex takes into account cost considerations. The SMC advice,\nfollowing a full submission reads:\n\n\n\n'darifenacin (Emselex(R)) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland\nfor the symptomatic treatment of urge incontinence and/or increased urinary\nfrequency and urgency as may occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome.\n\n\n\nDarifenacin is effective in reducing symptoms associated with overactive\nbladder, including frequency, urgency and incontinence and the treatment effect\nis similar to another...