Access Pharmaceuticals Announces the European Launch of MuGard(TM) by its European Partner...( DALLAS April 22 /- ACCESS PHARMACEUT...)

DALLAS, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP), announced today that MuGard(TM), its proprietary polymer-based oral mucositis product has been launched in Germany, Italy, UK, Greece and the Nordic countries by its European commercial partner, SpePharm, a pan-European specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the provision of high medical value medicines in supportive and critical care.

Under a license from Access Pharmaceuticals Inc, SpePharm is responsible for manufacturing, regulatory approval and commercialization in the 27 countries of Europe. In October 2008, MuGard was granted CE Mark certification by the Dutch Notified Body (KEMA). SpePharm plans to launch MuGard in the rest of Europe over the coming 12 to 18 months. Access will receive significant royalties on net sales.

"SpePharm and Access are pleased with the commercial launch of MuGard in Europe, and while it is still in the early days, initial feedback has been positive," said Phillip Wise, Vice President of Business Development at Access. "SpePharm is also working hard to secure reimbursement from the individual governmental regulators, which we believe will greatly enhance initial product adoption and ongoing marketing efforts to reach and penetrate the target population of patients requiring this important treatment option. We look forward to further commercial launches from our other MuGard commercialization partners," he continued.

MuGard is a ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of many anticancer treatments. Up to 40% of all patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy develop moderate to severe mucositis, and almost all patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and those undergoing stem cell transplantation develop mucositis. Updated clinical practice guidelines for the prevent
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