Acino signs commercial manufacturing contract with Bayer

Under the arrangement, Acino will manufacture commercial quantities of Bayer’s new patch in support of the launch and the commercialization. Acino has already been sup-plying Bayer with clinical trial material for its ongoing phase III (and earlier stage) stud- ies.

In order to cater for the expected demand, Acino is undertaking a significant expansion of its production capacity for transdermal systems at its Miesbach site in Germany. Pre- paratory construction work for a new facility is presently ongoing and the completion is scheduled for the end of 2012. The total investment for the new factory amounts to about EUR 20 million. Once operational this will represent a two- to threefold capacity increase from today’s annual output of about 30 million transdermal systems.

“We are delighted that Bayer, after entrusting us during the development of the novel patch, also places confidence in our production capabilities to supply commercial quanti- ties for worldwide marketing of their important new drug product," said Peter Burema, CEO of the Acino Group.

The innovative transdermal system for female contraception, which Acino will produce, contains a combination of ethinyl-estradiol and gestodene and is currently in Phase III of clinical development. The patch, which has been developed together with Acino, will be the smallest, lowest dosed and the only transparent patch for female contraception on the market.

Contact
Acino Holding Ltd. Erlenstrasse 1 CH-4058 Basle Phone +41 61 338 60 00 Fax +41 61 338 60 80 www.acino-pharma.com