Business
Aeterna Zentaris Announces Formal Implementation of its Sales Force In Support of Selling ASCEND's EstroGel®
QUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 27, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX:&...
About this update from Cosciens Biopharma Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nQUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 27, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the \"Company\") today announced the formal implementation of its own full-time U.S. sales force with field selling of ASCEND Therapeutics US LLC's (\"ASCEND\"), EstroGel®, scheduled to start the week of November 17, 2014. EstroGel® is the leading non-patch transdermal brand of estrogen replacement therapy commercialized in the U.S. The selling of EstroGel® by Aeterna Zentaris is part of the strategic co-promotion services agreement signed last August with ASCEND which stipulates that Aeterna Zentaris will market this product, in specific U.S. territories. For its part, ASCEND would market, in specific U.S. territories, Aeterna Zentaris' product, Macrilen™, for use in the evaluation of adult growth-hormone deficiency (\"AGHD\"). A New Drug Application (\"NDA\") for Macrilen is currently under review by the FDA, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (\"PDUFA\") date of November 5, 2014.  In consideration for these co-promotion services, each party will be entitled to receive, from the other party, commissions on net sales of each other's product.\n\nAs part of its commercial strategy, Aeterna Zentaris anticipates using approximately 20 full-time sales representatives to cover its assigned U.S. specific territories, while ASCEND will use its existing sales force of over 35 sales representatives to cover its territories. Overall, more than 50 sales representatives are expected to promote both EstroGel® and Macrilen™. Aeterna Zentaris is expected to book all future sales of Macrilen™, while ASCEND will continue to book all sales of EstroGel®.\n\nDavid Dodd, Chairman, CEO at Aeterna Zentaris stated, \"The implementation of our own sales force and the field selling of ASCEND's EstroGel®, mark an important step in our strategy of transitioning into a commercially operating specialty biopharmaceutical company, while the FDA continues its active NDA review for the approval of Macrilen™ in the evaluation of AGHD. We very much look forward to working with ASCEND, as it will enable us to use our new commercial structure not only for the co‑promotion of EstroGel®, but also for the potential launch of Macrilen™, as well as for other commercial ...