Fontus Pharmaceuticals Acquires Nephrology and Endocrinology Drug from Roche Laborat...( Launches Nephrology and ...)

Launches Nephrology and Endocrinology Product Line

PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Fontus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on nephrology and endocrinology, announced today that it has acquired ROCALTROL(R) (calcitriol) from Roche Laboratories Inc. ROCALTROL is a vitamin D analog prescribed by nephrologists for the management of hyperparathyroidism and resultant metabolic bone disease in patients with moderate to severe chronic renal failure (CRF) and by endocrinologists for the management of hypocalcemia in patients with post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism.

About ROCALTROL(R) (calcitriol)

ROCALTROL, available as capsules and as an oral solution, is the most potent metabolite of vitamin D available and is active in regulating the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract and its utilization in the body. The calcitriol in ROCALTROL is believed to be the active hormone which exerts vitamin D activity in the body. ROCALTROL improves calcium absorption in patients who have severe vitamin D deficiencies commonly associated with CRF, chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or primary hypothyroidism.

ROCALTROL therapy should always be started at the lowest possible dose and should not be increased without careful monitoring of serum calcium. In order to avoid hypercalcemia and related conditions, the optimal daily dose of ROCALTROL must be carefully determined for each patient. The safety and effectiveness of ROCALTROL in pediatric predialysis patients is based on evidence from adequate and well controlled studies of ROCALTROL in adults with predialysis chronic renal failure and additional supportive data from non-placebo controlled studies in pediatric patients. Specific doses of ROCALTROL are recommended for pediatric predialysis patients. These and other precautions and warnings may be found in th
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