Rhone-Poulenc Rorer
Executive Summary
Signs exclusive marketing agreement with Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals to market its controlled-release oral nitroglycerin tablet Nitrong in the U.S. RPR states July 8 that the agreement will allow the company to build its cardiovascular franchise in the U.S. RPR recently gained approval for an extended-release version of the calcium channel blocker diltiazem, Dilacor XR ("The Pink Sheet" June 8, In Brief). The RPR release indicates that the companies may plan to position Nitrong as an alternative to nitroglycerin patches, noting that Nitrong dosing allows for a nitrate-free interval to avoid development of tolerance, which has been associated with patches.