Dr Eberhard Zinn, Ferring Board Member, dies at 66

Lausanne, Switzerland – March 15, 2004 –

Ferring founding board member, Dr. Eberhard Zinn died last week; he was 66 years old.

Dr Zinn has been a member of the Board of Ferring Holding SA, the holding company for the group since its establishment in 2000.

Dr Zinn had a strong academic background having studied economics at the Universities of Hamburg, Turin and Innsbruck before going onto earn a doctorate from the University of Innsbruck and an MBA from the French business school INSEAD. His career with the Chase Manhattan Bank took him to New York, Paris and Frankfurt, and he later worked for Deutsche Girozentrale – Deutsche Kommunalbank in Frankfurt. Most recently he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Bayerische Landesbank in Munich.
“During his tenure as board member, Dr Zinn worked with us to construct the corporate and financial framework necessary to support the Group’s planned future growth”, said Frederik Paulsen, Ferring’s Executive Chairman. “His wide experience particularly in relation to project funding and currency movements will be greatly missed”.

Ferring offers its sincere condolences to Dr. Zinn’s wife and family.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring is a Swiss research driven, specialty biopharmaceutical company active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, infertility and urology.

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 us at:
www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Sharmi Albrechtsen
Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com

Research by 2003 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Fills in ‘Scientific Gaps’ Necessary for Ferring Researchers to Develop Incontinence Product Focusing on the Kidney

Lausanne, Switzerland – February 27th, 2004 –

Ferring is exploring the links between recent Nobel Prize winning discoveries and its vision to provide better and more sophisticated treatments for those sufferers affected by urinary incontinence, thereby transforming the way the disease is treated.

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Agre discovered the presence of aquaporins and waterchannels which regulate the water balance in the human body.

Aquaporins serve as channels in the wall of biological cells and have the remarkable ability of conducting water through cells at high rates – up to a billion molecules per second. Researchers hope to one day to be able to influence these channels to provide more direct control of urine production by the kidney.

‘The principles that emerge from aquaporins provide a framework for additional research into treatments and I am very enthusiastic about the prospect of my research inspiring drug development to even greater heights at Ferring,’ said Professor Agre.

Professor Agre’s research has clinical implications in kidney research and will help Ferring further develop newer ‘designer’ compounds that will work on the molecular level and possibly influence aquaporins.

“Attacking the disease at the root, ie. the kidney could make a big difference in patients,” said Dr. Jens Peter Nørgaard, head of urology at Ferring. “Knowledge of aquaporins will give us better insight to create products that will complement the existing drugs: anticholinergics which target a completely different aspect of the disease.”

In the meantime, Professor Agre’s research fills in scientific gaps that have existed previously and provide insight into the mode of action of Ferring’s second generation family of orally active non-peptide vasopressin agonists that act on urine production in the kidney.

One of these compounds, FE 106 483 is currently in phase I clinical development. The hallmarks that distinguish this new generation of compounds are high selectivity for its receptor and high oral availability.

Ferring hosted Professor Agre and other renowned scientists at an R&D Anniversary Symposium at the Ferring International Center in Copenhagen on February 26th 2004 with more than 100 researchers, dignitaries and media in attendance.

Meeting Unmet Needs

It is estimated that 40 million people across Europe suffer from urinary incontinence. Simply put, people who suffer from urinary incontinence, have difficulties holding their urine and very often wet themselves.

Oral anticholinergics are the first-line medical treatment for urinary incontinence, but the effectiveness of these drugs is limited as described in a recently published Cochrane Review.¹ It is also known that only a minority of the patients remain on their treatment for a year despite persistent symptoms.

Because there is currently no effective treatment for these disorders, Professor Agre’s work and similar scientific investments in understanding the basic mechanisms of aquaporins may pay off in future treatments, said Professor Paul Abrams, professor of urology in the Department of Urology at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.

Thus, there is room for improvement of the current treatments’ risk/benefit ratio and an unmet medical need for a novel treatment approach.

Ferring researchers believe that returning to the root of the issue -urine production- in the kidney rather than the current practice of solely treating the bladder may be a better way of treating patients.

Professor Agre says that he always believed his research could be used clinically and he is happy that Ferring is one of the first in line to use his discoveries for kidney research that could lead to better treatments for incontinence and other related diseases.

Ferring and Anti-Diuresis

For the last 50 years, Ferring has been one of the world’s leaders in research and development of conditions related to abnormalities in the kidney and related urine production.

Ferring’s flagship urology product for the treatment of bedwetting, desmopressin, is also celebrating its 30th birthday this year. The product is recommended by the World Health Organisation and has been used by millions of children world-wide to control their bedwetting.

To celebrate these ‘anniversaries’ Ferring sponsored a scientific programme yesterday that included some of the most esteemed researchers in kidney disorders and urology including: Professor Gary Robertson Northwestern University, Chicago, US; Professor Paul Abrams from Bristol University, UK and Professor Søren Nielsen from the University of Aarhus, Denmark.

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 area of urology, obstetrics and infertility, gastroenterology and endocrinology. 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 us at
www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Sharmi Albrechtsen
Corporate Communication Manager, Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com

References

1. 1. BMJ. 2003 Apr 19;326(7394):841-4. Effectiveness of anticholinergic drugs compared with placebo in the treatment of overactive bladder: systematic review. Herbison P, Hay-Smith J, Ellis G, Moore K.

Updates in Infertility Congress

Marco Island, Florida – January 22, 2004 –

Headline News

Infertility experts from around the world gather to review the newest breakthroughs including:

• Cloning: The future of IVF? The Ageing Man; Stem Cells: Prospects for a future therapy of male infertility; the role of luteinizing hormone and reproduction
• New Patient Site is Launched Targeting ‘First Timers’
• Researchers reveal new data that suggests HP-hMG has a clear beneficial effect on the pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF

More than six million couples in the United States and nearly 25 million world-wide experience infertility each year. New options to help these couples are the focus of a congress this week — to preview the newest scientific findings in infertility and to discuss better ways to meet increasing demands from infertile couples for better and more cost-effective treatments.

“We want the public and especially anyone facing infertility to know that it affects millions of families and that there are more options to treat infertility today than ever before,” said Prof. Marco Filicori, Updates in Infertility conference president and head of the Reproductive Endocrinology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Bologna in Italy.

Sessions at the meeting will include: molecular and cellular aspects of reproduction, follicle and oocyte development, assisted reproduction technology, hormones and reproduction, male reproductive function and treatment and polycystic ovary syndrome.

“Updates in Infertility” is sponsored, through an unrestricted educational grant, by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a global leaders in developing treatments for infertility. Ferring’s product MENOPUR, is licensed for use in Europe for the treatment of infertility as the only product containing both luteinizing hormone activity as well as follicle stimulating hormone.

“Many couples don’t realize the number of options available to help them achieve pregnancy and the tremendous amount of hope we can offer to couples who dream of having a family but are dealing with infertility’, said Michel L. Pettigrew, Chief Operating Officer at Ferring. ‘Our focus for sponsoring these meetings is that patients come first.”

Having a child is a major life goal for most people, and it is one of life’s most natural and fundamental functions. Consequently, to be unable to have a baby – often for unidentified reasons – can place a huge emotional and psychological burden on patients. Many women who experience infertility feel confused, frustrated, afraid, isolated, ashamed, angry and guilty, said Pam Madsen, president of the American Infertility Association (AIA).

With those thoughts in mind, Ferring will also launch the first patient website specifically aimed at ‘first-timers’ to the infertility process this week at the congress. The site is called My First Visit to an IVF Center (www.firstvisitivf.org).

“Since no web sites exist for preparing patients for their first visit to an infertility specialist, patients have been uncertain about what to expect and what kind of information they should bring to the first consultation,” said Elizabeth Weis, Ferring project manager for the site. “We really believe that this will be a helpful tool for both physician and patient as it should allow for a more meaningful discussion during the ever important first visit. ”
The site has been developed with input from infertility specialists world-wide and patient organizations such as AIA.

This site is specifically designed for patients undergoing IVF for the first time. It does not promote any products, but explains treatment, procedures and describes the first consultation is. The patient will for instance learn about what to expect from their doctors, the types of tests usually done, how IVF is typically performed and basic terminology, and they will get a list of useful resources and a check list for use when preparing for the first consultation.

More than 500 international infertility experts from around the world will attend “Updates in Infertility,” January 22-25th, 2002. The scientific conference promises to showcase some of the latest research and development in the field of infertility.

Infertility is on the rise because many women are choosing to postpone pregnancy, which increases their risk of infertility. Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after one year of trying to become pregnant. Almost 10 percent of women of childbearing age are infertile.

With infertility on the rise, infertility experts are seeking to find treatment solutions that are efficacious and cost effective. According to the World Health Organization, between 60 and 80 million couples in the world are infertile.

Today’s treatments have a high success rate, with approximately three out of four women becoming pregnant.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

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

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 us at www.Ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Sharmi Albrechtsen
Corporate Communication Manager, Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com

Additional data for MENOPUR* (HP-hMG)

Lausanne, Switzerland – January 22, 2004 –

The new data was based on a sub-analysis of the landmark trial EISG (European-Israeli Study Group) which was designed to demonstrate non-inferiority of MENOPUR¹ (HP-hMG) when compared with rFSH² in nearly 700 IVF and ICSI patients.

Further analysis showed impressive results: the ongoing pregnancy rate in the 233 women who underwent IVF was significantly higher in the MENOPUR group (31%) compared with the rFSH group (20%), (p=0.037) . – a difference of 50%.

The results from the study which were published in an abstract at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in October 2003, were presented in more depth today at the Updates in Infertility Congress in Marco Island, Florida. The study analysis also showed that although fewer oocytes were retrieved in the MENOPUR group vs. rFSH group, MENOPUR had a clear beneficial effect on the pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF.

IVF procedures make up more than 60 percent of all ART (assisted reproduction treatment) procedures.

The conclusions from this analysis will be confirmed in a state-of-the-art prospective, multi-national, comparative study powered to demonstrate superiority of MENOPUR vs rFSH in IVF patients. The trial will be launched next month.

Researchers are confident that the results of EISG will be confirmed as MENOPUR and that LH activity will be an important contributor to pregnancy. Several studies conclude that the LH activity/hCG has several positive effects: it stimulates the development of high quality large follicles and it diminishes the number of small follicles which hypothetically could reduce the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

Interestingly new data also suggests that LH/HhCG activity may have a beneficial effect on the blood flow in the endometrium consequently improving the chances of successful egg implementation.

Adequate hCG levels during treatment with MENOPUR appear to have a favourable impact on ongoing pregnancy rates in IVF and ICSI patients, but more markedly in IVF.

The authors suggest that the beneficial effect of the LH activity in MENOPUR seen in IVF patients could also be mediated by “cumulus oophorus” cells which are present during the IVF and not during the ICSI procedure.

“It is becoming increasingly evident that MENOPUR will challenge and will likely replace rFSH in the treatment of infertility with IVF,’ said Dr. Pascal Danglas, vice-president of Clinical and Product Development at Ferring. ”Studies like this are important because they provide evidence to identify the gonadotropin most likely to work best in which procedure. With the result of the new study, MENOPUR must be considered one of the most effective treatments in IVF therapy today. ”

“And from a patient’s perspective this is also big news. What this means is that with MENOPUR, you have a higher chance of pregnancy if your procedure is IVF, he said.

EISG Study Details

The EISG (European-Israeli Study Group) was an open-label, randomised, multi-center, multinational study to demonstrate non-inferiority of HP-hMG compared to rFSH on going pregnancy rates

• Patient’s: In this study, 727 women were exposed to gonadotrophin treatment, of whom 691 had either IVF (n = 233) or ICSI (n = 458) performed.
• Intervention: Three-hundred and seventy-three women received HP-hMG (Menopur®, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S) and 354 received rFSH (Gonal-F®, Serono) according to a long protocol with a GnRH agonist.
• HP-hMG (MENOPUR) vs rFSH (GONAL-F), subcutaneous route.
• IVF/ICSI and embryo transfer procedures according to center practice. Transfer of 1-3 developed embryos.
• Luteal support according to center practice.

Infertility on the Rise

Globally, 14% of couples are facing problems with infertility and the number is increasing, mainly because many women are opting to postpone motherhood. In the group of 30-35 year olds, the infertility rate increases to 25%. One third of births are by women above 30 years of age.

Today, reproductive medicine offers a variety of procedures to assist couples in achieving pregnancy, but more than half of the couples with more than two years of infertility still fail to achieve pregnancy. With advances in infertility research and wider availability of newer techniques, the success rate of infertility treatment is rising but there is a continuous need for new and more effective treatments.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring is a research driven, speciality biopharmaceutical group active in global markets.  The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, infertility and urology. 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 us at
www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Sharmi Albrechtsen
Corporate Communication Manager, Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com

References

1. MENOPUR is a registered trademark of Ferring BV and/or one of its affiliates.
2. GONAL-F is a registered trademark of Serono.

Ferring Acquires DUPOMAR

Lausanne, Switzerland – January 12th, 2004 –

The acquisition reinforces Ferring’s commitment to Latin America and strengthens the company in the field of women’s health.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has acquired the Argentinean company DUPOMAR S.A, which will immediately double Ferring’s turnover in Argentina and enable the company to propel its operation there to the next level.

DUPOMAR specializes in women’s and children’s health and provides Ferring with an additional sales force of more than 60 representatives covering the entire country. “With a stronger presence we can establish a dedicated infertility field force, and be in a good position to focus on coverage beyond the urban centers covered by the existing Ferring sales force,” says Michel L. Pettigrew, Chief Operating Officer.

DUPOMAR’s products are sold exclusively in Argentina and fit well with Ferring’s therapeutic areas. In particular they will strengthen Ferring’s business in the area of women’s health, an area which has been growing since Ferring introduced its infertility line in Argentina in 2001.

A new business organization is underway to maximize the synergies between Ferring and DUPOMAR for the benefit of the combined portfolio. “We are happy to welcome the new members of our sales team, and give them the opportunity to work in an international and successful organisation and to promote high tech, quality products,” says Alberto Perez, who will head Ferring-DUPOMAR.

With a 40 year long history DUPOMAR is well known in Argentina. “DUPOMAR has an outstanding reputation for trust and quality, which we in Ferring are happy to cultivate and continue,” says Michel L. Pettigrew.

Ferring started its business in Argentina in 1993 and the subsequent introduction of its infertility line led to excellent results in 2002, with the company achieving the highest Evolution Index in the Argentinean market. After the acquisition Ferring-DUPOMAR has more than130 employees in Argentina.

It is Ferring’s ambition to further develop its business in Latin America and this acquisition demonstrates that Ferring is committed to expanding its presence in both the therapeutic areas and key geographies in which the company operates.
Notes to editors:

DUPOMAR S.A. is a US $6 million pharmaceutical company in Argentina that specializes in women’s and children’s health, including treatments for urinary infections, osteoporosis/calcium deficit, pain and inflammation management. Key physician targets covered by DUPOMAR include the Gynecologist, Pediatrician, Ear – Nose -Throat (ENT) and General Practitioner (GP).
The production facility is based in Buenos Aires, as are the DUPOMAR commercial headquarters.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

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

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 us at: www.Ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Mette Nikolajsen
Ferring International Center
+ 45 28 78 71 98
mette.nikolajsen@ferring.com

Ferring Acquires NORPROLAC

Lausanne, Switzerland – 6 January 2004 –

Deal will allow Ferring to further expand and diversify its infertility portfolio

Ferring announced today the closing of a deal with Novartis Pharma AG for the acquisition of the worldwide manufacturing, marketing and distribution rights of NORPROLAC (quinagolide).

The deal is an important element of Ferring’s ongoing business development initiatives to further expand its position as one of the leading players in the female reproductive health and endocrinology.

NORPROLAC is a prolactin inhibitor indicated for the management of hyperprolactinemia, a disorder that suppresses ovulation by the production of excess levels of the hormone prolactin.

The global sales of prolactin inhibitors are estimated to be €200 million (2002) and while estimates vary approximately 14% of these prescriptions (Rx) are written for the indication hyperprolactinemia.

The product acts on the pituitary to block the production and release of prolactin. The treatment has shown to be as effective as conventional therapy (reduction in pituitary tumour size) but is better tolerated by patients than conventional therapy in studies. Those patients who are intolerant of the standard treatment are often encouraged to use NORPROLAC.¹

Adding NORPROLAC to the portfolio for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia, a cause of infertility should further emphasize Ferring’s commitment to the treatment area.

Hyperprolactinemia occurs more frequently in women as prolactin’s primary function is to enhance breast development during pregnancy and to induce lactation. However, when prolactin is in excess it may suppress the sexual hormones gonadotropins thereby affecting ovulation.² Aside from sexual functionality, hyperprolactinemia may also pose a long-term risk for osteoporosis.

‘Acquiring NORPROLAC for hyperprolactinemia is an important milestone in our business development strategy,’ said Michel L. Pettigrew, Chief Operating Officer for the Ferring Group.”While we are excited about the opportunities this deal offers Ferring for developing our female reproductive health franchise, we are most delighted about the possibilities of offering patients suffering with the disorder an opportunity to remedy it and become pregnant.”

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Ferring’s reproductive health franchise includes several leading products. REPRONEX is the most prescribed³ human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in the US and the highly purified, hMG MENOPUR in Europe has recently indicated clinical superiority over a leading recombinant FSH in the first, head to head international in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinical treatment trial.⁴ Last year, the company in the US also successfully launched BRAVELLE (urofollitropin for injection, purified), the newest highly purified human-derived, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH).

Almost 10 percent of women of child-bearing age are infertile, and one quarter will experience at least one period of infertility during their lives. According to the World Health Organization, between 60 and 80 million couples in the world are infertile. It is estimated that about 1 in 6 couples seek help to achieve a pregnancy.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

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

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

Please visit us at www.Ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Sharmi Albrechtsen
Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com

References

1. Barnett PS; Palazidou: Treatment of macroprolactinomas with quinagolide (versus bromocriptine). Ann Endocrinology 1997.
2. Blackwell RE: Hyperprolactinemia:etiology, diagnosis and treatment alternatives. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1998. Mar;77: 249-62.
3. Data on File.
4. Platteau P, Smitz J. Does exogenous LH activity influence the treatment outcome in IVF and not in ICSI cycles? Abstract ASRM 2003.