Bentley Pharma obtains Spanish rights to Codeisan

Drug delivery company Bentley Pharmaceuticals Inc. (North Hampton, NH) has acquired the Spanish marketing and manufacturing rights to Codeisan, a medication used to treat moderate pain and the discomforts associated with severe cough, from Merck & Co. subsidiary Abello. Bently licensed the product line—which includes tablet and liquid formulations—through its subsidiary, Laboratorios Belmac.

As part of the deal, Bentley also acquired the associated manufacturing equipment, which will be transferred to Laboratorios Belmac's production facilities in Zaragosa, Spain. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Codeisan is prescribed for moderate pain and is a useful antitussive for treating discomforts associated with severe cough. The Spanish market for this therapeutic group of drugs is approximately $28 million; the Codeisan brand holds some 10% of market share, which has been growing at an annual rate of 4% over the past year.

According to Bentley chairman and CEO James R. Murphy, Bentley will be able to efficiently promote the newly acquired Codeisan products, since they are complementary to the company's current anti-infective and influenza treatment product lines.

Bentley Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a drug delivery company focused upon improving the absorption of drugs and peptides through proprietary drug delivery technologies. Bentley also manufactures and commercializes branded and generic products in Europe for the treatment of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and infectious diseases through its subsidiaries Laboratorios Belmac and Laboratorios Davur.

For more information: Michael D. Price, Vice President and CFO, Bentley Pharmaceuticals Inc., 65 Lafayette Rd. 3rd Fl., North Hampton, NH 03862-2403. Tel: 603-964-8006. Fax: 603-964-6889.

Edited by Jim Pomager