New Drugs Arriving at Pharmacies

Pharmacia
&Upjohn
News Release
CONTACT: John Ruane, Pharmacia & Upjohn June 25, 1997
[phone]
Peggy Hayes, Ketchum Public Relations
[phone]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW AIDS DRUG ARRIVING AT PHARMACIES
(KALAMAZOO, MI) -- Shipments of Rescriptor Tablets (delavirdine mesylate), the new anti-AIDS
drug produced by Pharmacia & Upjohn, are now available at pharmacies throughout the United States,
the company announced today.
With combination therapy believed to be the most effective treatment for fighting HIV infection,
the availability of Rescriptor will help physicians by offering another therapy option to treat HIVinfected patients.
"The results of Pharmacia & Upjohn's clinical studies using Rescriptor in combination with AZT
are noteworthy, but I don't think they give the medical community a true understanding of this drug's
potential," said Joseph Eron, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and associate director of the AIDS
Research Group, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "Those studies were developed before
protease inhibitors were available. Research and treatment have changed drastically since that time."
P&U researchers are developing protocols for Phase IV studies of Rescriptor used in triple and
quadruple combination with other medications, including protease inhibitors. "When those studies are
finished, we believe the medical community will have a better understanding of the role of Rescriptor in
combination therapy with protease inhibitors and nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors,"
said William W. Freimuth, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical development-antivirals for Pharmacia &
Upjohn.

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