© AzurPharma Ltd.
Company Number 399192
Dublin, Ireland, November 15th, 2007 - Azur Pharma Limited ("Azur") today announced it has entered into a License and Supply Agreement with Martek Biosciences Corporation ("Martek") for the supply of Martek's patent protected DHA omega-3 ("life'sDHATM") for Azur Pharma's prescription prenatal products.
Azur will launch Natelle® Plus, a prescription prenatal multivitamin/mineral supplement with life'sDHATM, this month. This will be the first product launched by Azur under the License and Supply Agreement with Martek. Azur expects another product launch incorporating life'sDHATM in the first half of 2008.
"We are pleased to have developed Natelle® Plus with Martek's life'sDHATM. We expect this innovative prenatal product, incorporating Martek's patented technology, to become a leading product for pregnant women. It will be directly marketed to physicians via Azur's women's health sales force in the United States. This is our first internally developed product and will leverage the infrastructure arising from our acquisition of Pharmelle earlier this year", said Seamus Mulligan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Azur Pharma.
About Azur Pharma
Azur is a privately held pharmaceutical company dedicated to enhancing patients' lives by developing and marketing pharmaceutical products in specialist therapeutic areas. Azur's strategy is to identify, evaluate, selectively acquire and enhance the value of late stage development and approved pharmaceutical products. (Website: www.azurpharma.com)
About Natelle Plus
Natelle® Plus is a patented prescription prenatal vitamin co-pack that provides essential vitamins and minerals plus Martek's life'sDHATM. Martek's life'sDHATM is a vegetarian form of DHA omega-3, a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and eyes and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. Studies have shown that increased availability of DHA omega-3 during pregnancy and lactation nourishes the neurological, visual and nervous system development of babies and may play an important role in long-term infant heart health and maternal well-being. Despite its importance, Americans have amongst the lowest dietary intake of DHA omega-3 in the world. Additionally, expert bodies such as the FDA have advised pregnant and nursing women to limit their fish consumption (the main dietary source of DHA omega-3) due to the potentially high levels of contaminants such as mercury found in certain fish. Martek's life'sDHATM is unique in the market because it is derived from a sustainable and vegetarian source. Made from microalgae under tightly controlled manufacturing conditions, life'sDHATM is free of oceanic contaminants that may be present in certain fish or fish oils. Microalgae are the only vegetarian source of DHA omega-3, the key omega-3 for brain development and function.
About Martek
Martek Biosciences Corporation (NASDAQ: MATK) is a leader in the innovation and development of DHA omega-3 products that promote health and wellness through every stage of life. The Company produces life'sDHATM, a sustainable and vegetarian source of DHA omega-3, for use in foods, beverages, infant formula, and supplements, and ARA (arachidonic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid, for use in infant formula. (Website: www.martek.com)
Azur Media Contact
Mr. Ray Gordon, MRPA Kinman Communications
Telephone: +353-1-7038619/+353-87-2417373
E-mail: ray@mrpakinman.ie