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<p><b>Continued Strong Growth of Zithromax (Azithromycin) Sales</b></p> |
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<p>Zagreb, 20th April 1999</p> |
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<p>"Global sales of Zithromax (azithromycin), a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic |
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increased by 44 percent to US$ 441 million in the first quarter of 1999", Pfizer |
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reported last week. "Growth in sales resulted form physicians' increasing recognition |
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of the product's broad efficacy, compliance advantages, favourable side-effect |
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profile and, in liquid formulation for children, a pleasant taste. Zithromax |
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continues to be the most prescribed brand-name prescription antibiotic in the |
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U.S." added Pfizer in its Press Release.</p> |
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<p>Azithromycin (the active substance of Zithromax) is PLIVA's original antibiotic |
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patented in 1981. In 1987 PLIVA licensed azithromycin to Pfizer for the markets |
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of North and South America, Western Europe and Japan, while PLIVA retained rights |
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to sell this product under its brand name Sumamed in the markets of Central |
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and Eastern Europe. Both companies have rights to sell in China. PLIVA earns |
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a royalty on all Pfizer sales of Zithromax.</p> |
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<table width="75%" border="0" align="center"> |
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<tr> |
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<td colspan="4"> |
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<div align="center"><b>Table: Zithromax sales Q1 1999 / Q1 1998</b></div> |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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<tr> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>(US$ m.)</b></div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>Q1 1999 </b></div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>Q1 1998 </b></div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>Change (%) </b></div> |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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<tr> |
37 |
<td> |
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<div align="center">USA</div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">344</div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">232</div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">48</div> |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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<tr> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">Rest of the World</div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">97</div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">74</div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center">32</div> |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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<tr> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>Total</b></div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>441 </b></div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>306</b></div> |
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</td> |
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<td> |
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<div align="center"><b>44</b></div> |
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</td> |
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</tr> |
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</table> |