Bangalore June 15, 2006: Brisbane-based Tercica Inc. has signed distribution agreements with Biologix FZ Co. (Kansas) and Giddi Pharma Co. (Taiwan) to begin distributing Increlex (mecasermin (rDNA origin) injection) in 17 Middle East and North African countries, and Taiwan, respectively. The first commercial shipment of Increlex to Taiwan was made June 12, 2006.

 

Tercica’s first product, Increlex (mecasermin (rDNA origin) injection), or recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1), is the only product approved by the FDA for the long-term treatment of severe Primary IGF-1 deficiency (Primary IGFD).

 

Tercica is executing on a plan to expand access to Increlex by making it available globally to children whose growth failure is caused by severe Primary IGFD. These are children who cannot be expected to respond adequately to exogenous growth hormone treatment.

 

Approximately 60 severe Primary IGFD patients have already been identified by physicians in the Middle East, North Africa and Taiwan as candidates for Increlex therapy. The company is looking forward to working with leading biopharmaceutical distributors in these regions where the FDA’s approval of Increlex is expected to be recognized.

 

Giddi Pharma Co. Ltd., founded in 1995, is a specialty medication and orphan drug company in Taiwan focusing on the areas of endocrinology, hematology, nephrology, oncology and metabolic diseases.

 

Giddi seeks to introduce innovative products by forming strategic alliances with global principles including Baxter, Biomarin, Genzyme, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi-Aventis, and others, committing superior knowledge and experience, and offering premium customer care for its clients earning it the Rare Disease Medication Contribution Award from the Department of Health of Taiwan each of the last five years.

 

Mr Louis Chiang, president of Giddi Pharma Co. Ltd., stated that the company is pleased about adding Increlex to their product portfolio and to be working with Tercica.

 

Biologix is the distributor for a number of products from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies including Biogen-Idec and Cephalon in 17 countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Biologix is focused on the sales and marketing of products in specific therapeutic areas such as endocrinology, neurology, oncology, dermatology and infectious diseases.

 

Mr Nabil Ghorayeb, Marketing & Sales director of Biologix expressed that Biologix is also very excited to begin relationship with Tercica, and to represent Increlex in the Middle East & North Africa.