Ferring Pharmaceuticals Officially Opens Its Production Site and Global Administrative Headquarters

Saint-Prex, Switzerland – 6 July, 2006 –

Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the pioneering Swiss pharmaceutical group and world leader in industrial synthesis of peptides, today officially opens its new production site and administrative Headquarters in Saint-Prex in the canton of Vaud. The company has invested more than CHF 130 million in the project and will have created more than 350 jobs by 2008.

Accompanied by Mrs. Jacqueline Maurer-Mayor, State Councillor, Mr. Günter Dauner, the Syndic of Saint-Prex, and Mr. Frederik Paulsen, the Chairman of the Board of Ferring, more than 100 guests will today visit the 100,000 m2 site in its magnificent Saint-Prex setting.

Ferring International Center SA set up its headquarters in Lausanne in 2000 and the new production site underlines the company’s commitment to the Lake Geneva region.

“We chose Switzerland for different reasons, including its highly qualified workforce, its central position in Europe and its accessibility, but the beauty of the Saint-Prex site was also an essential factor,” said Mr. Michel Pettigrew, Ferring’s Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Pettigrew also emphasized the excellent contacts with the various political and economic authorities of Vaud and the support they provided in bringing the project to successful completion.

The 23,000-m2 building houses all manufacturing stages from production to packaging and distribution, as well as a 3,600-m2 administrative section. Ferring has invested more than CHF 130 million in the project. The company employs 250 people today and will be increasing this number to more than 350 by 2008.

Light and transparency set the scene for the opening, reflecting Ferring’s focus on the future. The production site was designed by the consortium Dolci Architecte / Tekhne Management in Yverdon-les-Bains and Lausanne, in collaboration with various local engineering companies. Daylight pervades the 15-metre high building, including the production area, thanks to the use of glass on the façades and in the inside corridors. For the new building, each Ferring subsidiary donated a work of art depicting its respective country, culture or history. These numerous eye-catching pieces emphasize the spacious proportions of the atrium.

“This new production site ensures supply of the medicines that we develop for our patients all over the world,” said Site Director François Hosotte. He added: “Ferring has shown strong sales development over the past few years. At Saint-Prex, we are in a better position to respond to growing demand for our products.”

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring is a Swiss-based, research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in over 40 countries. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, infertility and urology.

For more information, please contact

Michael George
Ferring International Center SA
#CH3-CorporateCommunications@ferring.com

Assisted Reproductive Technology helps address demographic challenge in Europe

MEP calls for improved access to ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) to help increase fertility rates

Prague, Czech Republic – 19 June, 2006–

New research conducted by the independent ‘think tank’ RAND Europe discusses one potential solution to the population ageing crisis in Europe that has not yet been considered. The study has examined the growing importance of infertility and how enabling infertile couples who wish to have children using assisted reproduction technologies could help to mitigate the consequences of falling birth rates in Europe. The research was presented for the first time at the ESHRE (European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology) Congress in June. The study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from the Switzerland based Ferring biopharmaceuticals.

Europe is currently facing an unprecedented ageing population, birth rates are falling and family sizes are shrinking. The total fertility rate is now less than two children per woman in every nation of the European Union. As a result, by 2040, one in four Europeans will be more than 65 years old, up from one in eight in 1990.

Dr Jonathan Grant, Director, RAND Europe, the independent research organisation that led the research, comments, “The results of our research demonstrate key points; ART technology has the potential to contribute to a population policy mix, while the impact of ART may appear to be small, it is similar to other policies that encourage fertility.”

Research Observations between Denmark and the United Kingdom

The new research, entitled “Should ART be part of a population policy mix?” compared two European countries with different reimbursement policies and funding models for ART.

The research has evaluated the effect of changes to the reimbursement environment for ART which would allow more cycles to be conducted and its potential contribution to total fertility rates. The research indicates that if the number of ART cycles in the UK were increased to levels similar to those in Denmark and the likely resulting live births, the total fertility rate would increase from 1.64 to 1.68. Demographers often cite that 2.1 children per woman is required in order to sustain existing population levels. Taking into consideration the current total fertility rate (TFR) contribution of ART in the UK of 0.02, this would suggest that the total contribution of ART to TFR could be 0.06. It is worth referencing that in Denmark, where there is generous public financing for ART, the contribution of ART is currently 0.07 to the TFR.

The research highlights that ART has the potential ability to stimulate total fertility by 0.06 and 0.07 in the UK and Denmark, respectively and is comparable to existing population policies often used by governments to influence child birth such as financial transfers, tax-credits and child care allowances. Subsequently the research illustrates that policies to influence the uptake of ART can be considered part of a population policy mix that can be adopted by governments to increase total fertility levels.

The Demographic Challenge

Concerns over population decline have caused politicians and policy makers to take note and begin serious consideration of policy implications and responses.

Dr. Irena Belohorska, Member of the European Parliament comments at a satellite symposium at ESHRE, “The current trend towards an ageing population is of importance to both the European Parliament and the European Commission because of its potential economic consequences and likelihood of impacting social cohesion between future generations. In the recent Green Paper by the Commission it was recognised that Europeans would like to have more children than they currently do; but they are discouraged from doing so for various economic and social reasons.

“Although the Commission recognises that the most important reason for the decline in births rate is due to economic and social determinants, the contribution of ART towards total fertility rates was not discussed in the Green Paper.”
Concerned by the omission of medical infertility from the Green Paper, which affects approximately 1 in 7 couples, and the available treatment options for couples, MEP Belohorská, who is also a doctor of gynaecology, recently tabled an oral question during the European Parliament asking why the Commission had not considered the possibilities with IVF for those couples with medical need. (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/QP-WEB/home.jsp?language=en).

Dr. Irena Belohorska continues, “With recent technological advancements and improved access to services in some member state countries, the number of children born from ART can often represent an increasing proportion of all live births each year. Acknowledging that there is no single solution to low fertility, governments, politicians and policy developers need to recognise the contribution that ART is currently making and can make to future populations.”

Medical Need

Results from the RAND study are seen as a milestone by many working in the area because the study bridges a gap between the disciplines of population demography and reproductive medicine and demonstrates how children born from this technology can impact future population dynamics. The results from this study are timely as governments are currently searching for available options to try and increase national fertility rates. The RAND study emphasises the importance of medical reimbursement which can often act as a barrier to couples requiring reproductive health services. According to Professor William Ledger presenting at an ESHRE satellite symposium: “The significance of these barriers will likely increase as the number of couples who require ART in order to conceive grows, due to factors such as the advancing age at which women try for first pregnancy, and the increasing prevalence of Chlamydia related tubal disease.”

About RAND Europe

RAND Europe is a non-profit organisation that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and objective analysis.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven,  specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology and obstetrics, infertility and urology. Ferring’s infertility treatment gives infertile couples the chance to have babies and includes MENOPUR®, a well-tolerated, and recognised high quality treatment for infertile couples around the world. Recent research has shown that treatment with MENOPUR® results in significant higher live birth rates compared with recombinant IVF treatment.

In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base and now has operating subsidiaries in over 40 countries. To learn more about Ferring or our products please visit www.ferring.com.

Degarelix, a novel GnRH blocker from Ferring, moves into phase III

21^st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU), Paris, 5^th – 8^th April 2006.

Treatment with degarelix results in fast, profound and sustained reductions in testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels without a testosterone surge

Paris, France – April 7, 2006 –

Following the presentation today of the results of the Phase IIb programme with degarelix in prostate cancer, which are in line with previous promising studies, Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced the immediate start of Phase III trials.¹

The findings from the international multi-centre trial in 187 men showed that 100% of those treated with an initial dose of 240 mg and a maintenance dose of 160 mg achieved androgen deprivation from day 28 to the full year. Androgen deprivation achieves disease control in prostate cancer patients.

“Degarelix is one of the first drugs in the emerging novel GnRH blocker class of treatments for prostate cancer and represents a new option which builds on many years of experience with effective hormonal therapies,” commented Professor Hein Van Poppel of the Department of Urology at the University of Gasthuisberg. Leuven, Belgium. “The results from this trial indicate that degarelix offers a potentially fast, profound and sustained suppression of testosterone and PSA, the well-known marker for prostate cancer.”

“Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and there is an ongoing need for better treatments,” explained Dr Bo-Eric Persson, Director, Medical Sciences, Urology / Oncology for Ferring Pharmaceuticals. “These results encourage us further that degarelix has the potential to answer some of these unmet needs in prostate cancer treatment.”

How degarelix works

Currently used hormonal treatments for prostate cancer include GnRH (gonadotrphin releasing hormone) agonists. Unlike degarelix, these therapies stimulate the natural hormone’s receptor on the pituitary gland. These agents also have a desired clinical effect, but they stimulate testosterone production before shutting it down. This initial stimulation of the receptors stimulates hormone-dependent tumour growth rather than inhibits it, and may lead to a worsening of cancer symptoms or ‘flare’.

Degarelix is designed to target and block the GnRH receptor. This rapidly prevents the production of testosterone and avoids the surge of testosterone and risk of flare.

Degarelix study findings

Degarelix was investigated in one multicentre, one-year study in Europe/South Africa. The study involved the evaluation of initiation doses of 200 mg and 240 mg administered subcutaneously followed by three maintenance doses 80, 120 and 160 mg given every 28 days. The therapeutic effect was assessed by measuring testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. 187 patients (age 52-93, median 72 years) with histologically confirmed Prostate Cancer and PSA more than or equal to 2 ng/mL received degarelix subcutaneously every 28 days.

Among those initially treated with 240 mg of degarelix, testosterone levels of less than or equal to 0.5 ng/mL were achieved in 92% of patients at Day 3 and 95% of patients at Day 28 compared with 88% at Day 3 and 86% at Day 28 for those administered with a 200 mg dose.

From Day 28 until Day 364, 100% of patients receiving maintenance doses of 160 mg achieved testosterone levels of less than or equal to 0.5 ng/mL at each monthly visit, compared with 96% of those receiving 120 mg and 92% of those receiving maintenance doses of 80 mg.

No evidence of testosterone surge was detected. PSA levels were reduced by 90% 8 weeks after initiation of therapy, by 94% after 12 weeks and by 96% after 24 weeks of treatment.

About prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, and the second leading cause of cancer death. In the US 197,800 new cases, 126,900 in the 5 biggest European countries and 30,400 new cases in Japan were estimated in 2003. In 2002 GLOBOCAN cancer database reported 542,909 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed worldwide and 204,000 deaths due to this disease.

About Current Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer

Current therapeutic options include surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal manipulation therapy or a combination of these. The approach to treatment is influenced by the patient’s age, stage of cancer and co-existing medical problems, though no agreed treatment pathway exists and treatment patterns vary in different countries.

Several different hormonal approaches are available for prostate cancer including bilateral orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testicles), GnRH analogues and anti-androgens.

About GnRH blockers versus agonists

Naturally occurring GnRH binds to the GnRH receptor on cells in the pituitary gland, triggering the production of luteinising hormone (LH), which subsequently stimulates the production of testosterone. Both GnRH agonists and blockers bind to this same receptor target.

Agonists, however, work initially by stimulating release of LH and hence testosterone production meaning there is surge in testosterone at the start of treatment leading to characteristic flare responses in symptoms and tumour growth. Meanwhile blockers, like degarelix, directly prevent the release of LH, which means testosterone suppression is fast and profound without a surge. In addition, with blockers there is no need to administer a second hormonal agent, called an anti-androgen, normally used to combat the flare responses that accompany the GnRH agonist usage.

About degarelix

Degarelix is a GnRH blocker, a synthetic peptide modelled on the body’s own gonadotrophin-releasing hormone.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring is a Swiss-based research driven, speciality biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, infertility and urology. In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base and now has offices in over 40 countries. To learn more about Ferring or our products please visit www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Michael George
Corporate Communication Manager, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
+41 58 301 00 53
#CH3-CorporateCommunications@ferring.com

References

1. Van Poppel, de la Rosette, Persson, Jensen, Olesen, A one year, multicentre, randomised study of degarelix, a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor block in prostate cancer patients. 21st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU), Paris, 5th – 8th April 2006.

Ferring and Astellas enter a license agreement on Degarelix for the treatment of prostate cancer in Japan

Lausanne, Switzerland / Tokyo, Japan – 31 January, 2006 –

Ferring Pharmaceuticals (“Ferring”; headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; executive chairman: Frederik Paulsen) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”; headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO: Toichi Takenaka) announced today that they have entered into a license agreement that gives Astellas exclusive rights to develop and market degarelix for the treatment of prostate cancer in Japan.

“This agreement marks another significant step for degarelix,” said Michel Pettigrew, Ferring’s Chief Operating Officer. “We are convinced that this partnership with Astellas will be a strong one, especially as both companies have a strong commitment to the area of Urology.”

“We are delighted to enter into partnership with Ferring on degarelix,” said Toichi Takenaka, Ph.D., President and CEO of Astellas. “Degarelix is an important addition to Astellas’ pipeline and allows us to deepen our commitment to contribute to the treatment of Urology disease, the existing business franchise of Astellas.”

Degarelix is a gonadtrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) blocker discovered by Ferring, with a unique sustained-release injectable formulation. GnRH is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus in the brain and is involved in the production of the male hormone testosterone. Although testosterone is an important hormone that plays a central role in the maintenance of function and growth of the prostate, it also stimulates prostate cancer to grow and to spread out and in result, often aggravates symptoms in prostate cancer patients. Degarelix suppresses the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) by blocking the GnRH receptors in the pituitary gland and controls the growth of prostate cancer by suppressing level of testosterone circulating in blood.

The license agreement grants Astellas the exclusive rights to develop and market degarelix for the treatment of prostate cancer in Japan. Astellas will make upfront and milestone payments to Ferring. In addition, Astellas will pay a royalty on product sales. In Japan, Ferring’s subsidiary Ferring Pharma Co., Ltd. is currently conducting a Phase I clinical trial. Following the conclusion of the licensing agreement, Astellas will undertake clinical development in Japan from Phase II onward. Ferring is conducting a Phase III clinical trial in the US and Europe on a three-month formulation of degarelix in prostate cancer patients, and a Phase III trial on a one-month formulation is also in preparation.

– ENDS –

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, and the second leading cause of cancer death. In the US 197,800 new cases, 126,900 in the 5 biggest European countries and 30,400 new cases in Japan were estimated in 2003. All in all, in 2002 GLOBOCAN cancer database reported 542,909 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed worldwide and 204,000 death events due to this disease. An actual annual growth rate, of prostate cancer incidence, is equal to 1%. The maturity of markets is different when it comes to screening and active treatment. This results in different phases in dynamics of incidence/ prevalence and death rate for prostate cancer for different regions in the world. The US leads the development of screening and treatment practices.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc., located in Tokyo, Japan, is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. In April 2005, the company was formed through the merger of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The organization is committed to becoming a global mega pharmaceutical company by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the world pharmaceutical market. For more information on Astellas Pharma Inc., please visit the company’s website at www.astellas.com.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring is a Swiss-based research driven, speciality biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, infertility and urology. In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base and now has offices in over 40 countries. To learn more about Ferring or our products please visit www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Michael George
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
+41 21 614 27 47
FICCorporateCommunications@ferring.com

Akihiro Tanaka
Ph.D., Astellas Pharma Inc.
+81 3 3244 3201

Leading urology experts call for better recognition and treatment of nocturia

Great days start when nocturia stops

Montreal, Canada – September 1, 2005 –

The world’s leading urology experts have joined forces at a major international meeting to highlight the importance of recognising and treating nocturia, one of the most common causes of sleep disturbance.¹ Data presented in a satellite symposium at the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society (ICS) in Montreal, Canada, confirmed the benefits of MINIRIN® (desmopressin) in the treatment of nocturia.

In the NOCTUPUS Phase III trial programme, involving 670 patients, desmopressin significantly increased the proportion of patients with a greater than 50% reduction in nightly voids compared with placebo. The treatment significantly increased the first sleep period duration, allowing patients to have a better night’s sleep.^2,3

Nocturia – the need to wake at night one or more times to void (urinate) – is a disruptive and under-recognised condition affecting two-thirds of people aged 50-59 worldwide. This equates to around 40 million adults in Europe alone.⁴ Traditionally seen as a male problem, nocturia affects women to a similar extent.⁵ There are considerable indirect economic costs attributable to nocturia.

Nocturia has only recently begun to be recognised as a medical condition in its own right rather than a symptom of some other disorder.⁶ It is defined by the International Continence Society (ICS) as the complaint that an individual has to wake at night one or more times to void (urinate).⁶

“Nocturia is a common problem but it can be treated” comments Professor Linda Cardozo, Professor of Urogynaecology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK. “By affecting the quality of sleep, nocturia causes problems such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, poor quality of life, reduced work productivity and depression. This is distressing and disrupting not only for the patient but also for their family and friends.”

Desmopressin is the first treatment specifically licensed for nocturia in patients below the age of 65. Its antidiuretic action decreases the amount of urine produced during sleep, thereby increasing the time it takes for the bladder to fill. Desmopressin significantly increases the first sleep period period by 1 hour 45 minutes in men and by 2 hours in women – with more than 30% of patients using MINIRIN experiencing an undisturbed sleep of over five hours.^1,3

Desmopressin is the only treatment to be highly recommended in nocturnal polyuria by the International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI).⁷

About nocturia

Nocturia is a multifactorial condition with a range of causes that include cardiovascular disease, reduced bladder capacity, diabetes and psychological factors. Around 70% of nocturia cases are attributed to nocturnal polyuria⁸ – the overproduction of urine at night.

About desmopressin

Desmopressin works in a similar way to the body’s own physiological system for concentrating urine. It is a synthetic analogue of the human ‘antidiuretic hormone’ vasopressin capable of decreasing urine production and delaying the need to urinate by mimicking the effect of vasopressin.

Desmopressin is currently available in over 40 countries worldwide. In addition to being indicated for the treatment of nocturia in patients below 65 years of age it is also indicated for the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) and diabetes insipidus.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring is a Swiss-based research driven, speciality biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, infertility and urology.

In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base and now has operating subsidiaries in over 40 countries.

For more information, please contact

Zoe Phillips
International Product Manager
+45 28 78 72 67
zoe.phillips@ferring.com

Michael George
Corporate Communication Manager
+41 21 614 27 47
michael.george@ferring.com

References

1. Asplund R et al. BJU Int 2004;93:1253-1256.
2. Lose G et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003; 189:1106-1113.
3. Mattiasson A. BJU Int 2002; 89:855-862.
4. Blanker M et al. J Urol. 2000;164(4):1201-1205.
5. Lose G et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185(2):514-521.
6. Van Kerrebroeck P et al. Neurourol Urodynam 2002;21(2):179-183.
7. Andersson K-E et al. BJU Int 2002;90(Suppl 3):25-27.
8. Swithinbank L et al. BJU Int 2003;91(4):430.