LUGANO, Switzerland, July 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Helsinn Healthcare SA and Mundipharma International Corporation Ltd. announce the signature of a Distribution and Licensing Agreement for Helsinn's product palonosetron in Malesia, Philippines and Singapore.

Aloxi(R) is a second generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist which demonstrated a long-lasting action in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) following therapy in patients with cancer. A single intravenous dose of palonosetron (0.25 mg) provides better protection from CINV than first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists.

The registration process is expected to start very soon and after the recent launch in Japan, this new important Agreement opens new perspectives in other countries in the area.

With the signature of this Agreement a further, significant number of Asian cancer patients will have a new important therapeutic option for the control of this impairing condition stated Dr. Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn's Group CEO. Mundipharma owns a strong expertise in cancer supportive care and has a highly respected reputation in the hospital field through its current product portfolio, in which Aloxi(R) will play a key complementary role he concluded.

Henrik Glarbo, Regional Managing Director for Mundipharma Asia Pacific said, Aloxi(R) represents an important advancement in the improvement of outcomes and the quality of life for patients in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore requiring treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). We are very excited about the addition of Aloxi(R) to our product portfolio in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

About Palonosetron (Aloxi(R), Onicit(R), Paloxi(R))

Palonosetron (palonosetron hydrochloride) is a second generation 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist, developed for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with cancer, with a long half-life of 40 hours and at least 30 times higher receptor binding affinity than currently available compounds. Palonosetron demonstrates, in clinical trials and clinical practice, a unique long-lasting action in the prevention of CINV. The product has shown to be effective in preventing both acute and delayed CINV in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC). A single intravenous dose of palonosetron provides better protection from CINV than first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists throughout a 5-day post-chemotherapy period*. Palonosetron is contraindicated in patients known to have hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its components. The most commonly reported adverse reactions in CINV trials with palonosetron were headache (9 percent) and constipation (5 percent), and they were similar to the comparators. Palonosetron has been developed by the Helsinn Group in Switzerland and today it is marketed as Aloxi(R), Onicit(R), and Paloxi(R) in more than 50 countries world-wide. Palonosetron, marketed as Aloxi(R), is the leading brand in the USA within the CINV Day of Chemo segment, and it is steadily growing in the European markets.

For more information about palonosetron, please visit the website: http://www.aloxi.com

*This sentence refers to Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy (MEC) setting.

About Mundipharma International Corporation Limited

Mundipharma and its independent associated companies are privately owned companies and joint ventures covering the world's pharmaceutical markets. The companies are dedicated to bringing to patients with severe and debilitating diseases the benefits of novel treatment options in fields such as severe pain, oncology, respiratory disease, anti- septics and laxatives. For more information: http://www.mundipharma.asia

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and subsidiaries in Ireland and USA. Helsinn's unique business model is focused on the licensing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in therapeutic niche areas. The Group in-licenses early stage new chemical entities, completes their development from the performance of pre-clinical/clinical studies and Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC), development, to the filing for and attainment of their market approval worldwide. Helsinn's products are sold directly, through the Group subsidiaries, or eventually out-licensed to its network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected for their deep in-market knowledge and know-how, and assisted and supported with a full range of product and scientific management services, including commercial, regulatory, financial, legal and medical marketing advice. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and the finished dosage forms are manufactured at Helsinn's cGMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland, and supplied worldwide to its customers. Helsinn is the worldwide licensor of palonosetron and of the original nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide. Helsinn, with a workforce of around 438 employees in Switzerland, Ireland and USA, reported a 2009 turnover of over CHF 305.6 million (management accounts), with over 20% of this turnover invested in RD. Helsinn covers 85 countries worldwide.

For more information about Helsinn Group, please visit the website: http://www.helsinn.com

Contact person at Helsinn Healthcare SA: Paolo Ferrari Head of International Marketing Helsinn Healthcare SA Ph: +41-91-985-21-21. info-hhc@helsinn.com Contact person at Mundipharma: Tian Wee NG Regional Marketing Director Mundipharma Pte Ltd Ph: +65-65111165 Enquiry@mundipharma.com.sg

SOURCE: Helsinn Healthcare SA

CONTACT: Contact person at Helsinn Healthcare SA: Paolo Ferrari, Head ofInternational Marketing, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Ph: +41-91-985-21-21.,info-hhc@helsinn.com . Contact person at Mundipharma: Tian Wee NG, RegionalMarketing Director, Mundipharma Pte Ltd, Ph: +65-65111165,Enquiry@mundipharma.com.sg .