Vitaros

[Flavio]

Good news! A new ED topical treatment is already available in Canada: it's called Vitaros and contains a powerful vasodilator called alprostadil.

Hopefully, Vitaros will be approved in the US and Europe soon.

Read more: http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...Newly-Approved

[bigjohnholmes]

I have been watching for this since seeing it is approved now in Canada as I live in a neighboring state and can go there for it.
It was approved by Canada Health in November 2010, then supposed to be marketed in November 2011. Apricus Bio is the patent holder, it apparently has been a very poorly managed company. For whatever reason, the marketing agreement with the company in Canada that was to manufacture and market the product fell through, Apricus Bio said a new distributor would be announced by the end of 2011, that of course did not happen. Finally on January 9 2012 a press release stated that Abbott Labs will be the manufacturer and marketer of Vitaros in Canada. I sent an email to Abbott Labs and was called back within a couple days by a representative, but that person was unknowledgeable of all this and said I would not be able to get info from their Canadian subsidiary. Apricus Bio could not comment at the time due to a quite period for an announcement of a sales agreement to distribute Vvitaros in Germany when approved in Europe.

I wanted to get a time frame on when Vitaros would be available for retail sale, looks like we won’t know ahead of time until one of these companies makes a public announcement at the time of product release. You will need a prescription form a Canadian doctor to get the product even by Canadian mail-order. International pharmacies may be able to supply Vitaros when available in Europe or Latin America like they do now with Vigamed or Zydena.

Apricus Bio has filed for approval in Europe with a request in the Netherlands, one EU country approval allows sales in all countries. Also is filing in Latin American countries.
Despite management’s poor record so far ( it gave up US sales rights for only$2.5M up front and $2.5M in royalties so won’t get anything else from US sales), this may be an investment opportunity when Canadian sales begin hopefully soon and European sales expected later this year, the price of the stock has fallen just recently when a secondary stock offering diluted the market value and took the price from ~$5.00 to now ~$3.60

[Ossa 71]

I did some checking on Vitaros last week as soon as I heard about it. My first call was to our Drug store which is one of a nationwide chain in Canada and the USA. The first person said she had not heard of it and said it was not on the master list. I then spoke to a senior druggist who made some calls and later advised it was not yet available in Canada.

I found Abbotts Canadian toll free and when I called a lady informed me she had never heard of it and it was not on the product list. She then transferred me to a dept manager who had to do some research while I waited. The advise was to call Apricus in the US for information.When I informed her that Abbott had the Canadian rights to it she said that was incorrect. Later that day I faxed them a copy of a news release outlining the agreement between Abbott and Apricus. I suspect Abbott are playing some kind of game and I doubt we will see Vitaros on the shelves in Canada any time soon. Maybe a phone campaign would help.The Canadian head office is 1-800-361-7852.

[bigjohnholmes]

Ossa 71
When I spoke to a customer service rep in the US for Abbott, she did not have info about this Canadian venture and said I could possibly call their Canadian operation but it would not be likely they would give me any information, which explains your results. Strange indeed that Abbott Canada is so closed mouth.
Since Apricus had previously agreed for E-Z-Em of Canada to produce the product, they now have to wait for Abbott to produce and distribute Vitaros, so it could take a while but the product should be out some time this year, I'm hoping maybe summer but that is just my guess.

[bigjohnholmes]

According to Apricus Bio's 10-k I just received, Abbott's launch of Vitaros in Canada is anticipated for the second half of 2012.
European Union approval is expected in 4th quarter 2012 or 1st quarter 2013.
Major Latin American country marketing authorization will be filed in those countries by the second half of 2012.