Adolor reacquires all rights to ENTEREG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) July 28, 2011 --

Adolor’s first commercial product, ENTEREG® (alvimopan), is a small molecule, peripherally-acting mu opioid receptor antagonist intended to block the adverse side effects of opioid analgesics, like morphine, on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract without interfering with central nervous system (CNS) mediated analgesia. ENTEREG is the first, and only, FDA-approved therapy for the management of delayed GI recovery following bowel resection surgery. The product is specifically indicated to accelerate upper and lower GI recovery following partial large or small bowel resection surgery with primary anastomosis.

The impairment of GI motility after bowel resection surgery can be associated with abdominal distension and bloating, persistent abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, delayed passage of or an inability to pass stool and an inability to tolerate oral intake or progress to a solid diet. Delayed GI recovery following bowel resection surgery can postpone hospital discharge until its resolution, resulting in an increased cost burden on healthcare providers.

ENTEREG was approved subject to a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) and the product labeling carries a boxed warning that ENTEREG is available only for short-term (15 doses) use in hospitalized patients. Under the REMS, ENTEREG is available only to hospitals that perform bowel resection surgeries and that are enrolled in the ENTEREG Access Support and Education (E.A.S.E. ®) Program.

Adolor, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), launched ENTEREG in the United States in mid-2008. On June 14, 2011, Adolor announced that it has entered into an agreement with GSK whereby Adolor will reacquire all rights to ENTEREG and assume full control of the promotional effort. Adolor intends to double the size of its ENTEREG field force and the transaction is expected to close in September 2011.

This transaction will initially double the revenues received by Adolor and, as sales grow, Adolor will be the sole beneficiary. Adolor's efforts to expand ENTEREG to out-of-hospital use should prove to increase revenues by a significant multiple.

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