WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 31, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAG ) today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a new U.S. patent to AMAG for ferumoxytol, U.S. Patent No. 8,591,864, Polyol and Polyether Iron Oxide Complexes as Pharmacological and/or MRI Contrast Agents, expiring in March 2020. This patent is directed to compositions that include the chemical structure and to 500 mg to 600 mg unit doses of ferumoxytol. This patent is listed in Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (commonly known as the Orange Book), published by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
"We are pleased to announce this new patent for ferumoxytol that is especially important for the long-term value of a product that generated 28 percent revenue growth last year in the United States," commented Frank Thomas, chief operating officer of AMAG.
AMAG now has five Orange Book-listed patents for ferumoxytol, with patent protection through March 2020, without patent term extension. AMAG has applied for a patent term extension for an Orange Book-listed ferumoxytol patent, which would lengthen that patent term through June 2023.
About AMAG
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that markets Feraheme® (ferumoxytol) Injection and MuGard® Mucoadhesive Oral Wound Rinse in the United States. Along with driving organic growth of its products, AMAG intends to expand its portfolio with additional commercial-stage specialty products. The company is seeking complementary products that leverage the company's commercial footprint and focus on hematology and oncology centers and hospital infusion centers. For additional company information, please visit www.amagpharma.com .
About Feraheme® (ferumoxytol)/Rienso
In the United States, Feraheme (ferumoxytol) Injection for Intravenous (IV) use is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adult patients who have failed oral iron therapy. Feraheme received marketing approval from the FDA on June 30, 2009 for the treatment of IDA in adult chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and was commercially launched by AMAG in the U.S. shortly thereafter.
Ferumoxytol is protected in the U.S. by five issued patents covering the composition and dosage form of the product. Each issued patent is listed in the FDA's Orange Book. These patents are set to expire in March 2020; a request for patent term extension has been filed, which, if granted, may extend the patent term to June 2023 for one of the patents.
Ferumoxytol received marketing approval in Canada in December 2011, where it is marketed by Takeda as Feraheme, and in the European Union in June 2012 and Switzerland in August 2012, where it is marketed by Takeda as Rienso.
For additional U.S. product information, including full prescribing information, please visit www.feraheme.com .
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Any statements contained herein which do not describe historical facts, including but not limited to statements regarding: the company's patents, patent term extension and intellectual property protection, are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements.
Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) uncertainties regarding the likelihood and timing of potential approval of AMAG's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Feraheme in the U.S. in the broader iron deficiency anemia (IDA) indication, (2) the possibility that following the FDA's review of post-marketing safety data, including reports of serious anaphylaxis, cardiovascular events, and death, the FDA will request additional technical or scientific information, new studies or reanalysis of existing data, on-label warnings, post-marketing requirements/commitments or risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) in the current CKD indication for Feraheme, (3) uncertainties regarding our and Takeda's ability to successfully compete in the intravenous iron replacement market both in the US and outside the US, including the EU, as a result of limitations, restrictions or warnings in Feraheme's/Rienso's current or future label that put Feraheme/Rienso at a competitive disadvantage, (4) uncertainties regarding Takeda's ability to obtain regulatory approval for Feraheme in Canada, and Rienso in the EU, in the broader IDA patient population, (5) the possibility that significant safety or drug interaction problems could arise with respect to Feraheme/Rienso and in turn affect sales, or the company's ability to market the product both in the US and outside of the US, including the EU, (6) uncertainties regarding the manufacture of Feraheme/Rienso, (7) uncertainties relating to our patents and proprietary rights, both in the US and outside of the US, (8) the risk of an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) filing following the FDA's recently published draft bioequivalence recommendation for ferumoxytol, and (9) other risks identified in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and subsequent filings with the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.
We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
AMAG Pharmaceuticals and Feraheme are registered trademarks of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MuGard® is a registered trademark of Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Rienso is a trademark of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Contact: Amy Sullivan, 617-498-3303
