Vivus Moves Production to New Facility

Vivus, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) has moved all its production-related activities into a new manufacturing facility. That means the company will no longer manufacture its lead product, Muse (alprostadil), at its facility contained within PACO Pharmaceutical Services Inc., a contract manufacturer.

While many drug-makers seek out contract manufacturers, Vivus is going in the opposite direction to save money and exercise more control over its products. "This strategic decision allows Vivus to reduce the expenses associated with a contract manufacturing site while continuing to manufacture sufficient product to meet domestic and worldwide demand for Muse," said Leland Wilson, CEO and president, Vivus.

Founded in 1991, Vivus, Inc. develops therapies for erectile dysfunction, commonly referred to as impotence. With the introduction of Pfizer's Viagra last spring, Vivus can be thought of as the "other" impotence company. Muse is a relatively non-invasive system that delivers alprostadil via the urethra.

The product consists of a pre-filled, single-use, plastic applicator containing micro-pellet of alprostadil, which is chemically identical to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). The medication acts locally to increase blood flow and rapidly produces an erection. PGE1 is a "natural" alternative to systemic anti-impotence drugs. And since it acts locally, there is less chance of systemic side effects such as hypotension (low blood pressure), a cause of many of the deaths associated with Viagra-related drug interactions.

Muse was launched in the US in January 1997 and by the end of the year, more than 825,000 prescriptions were written and eight million units were sold.

For more information: Leland Wilson, CEO, Vivus, Inc., 605 East Fairchild Dr., Mountain View, California 94043. Tel: 650-934-5200.

By Angelo DePalma