A SERVICE
OF 
SangStat to Focus
Beyond Transplantation Markets
FREMONT, Calif.- November 1, 2000· by TNN Medical Reporter
Virginia Baskerville
- SangStat Medical Corporation has announced plans to broaden the
company's focus from products solely related to transplantation to wider
markets. "SangStat plans to redirect resources to capitalize on its proven
strengths in the marketing and development of high-value therapeutics in niche
markets," the company said in an October 16 statement. The statement was issued
in conjunction with a second press release announcing that company president
and CEO Jean-Jacque Bienaime has been elected chairman of the company,
replacing SangStat's founder, Philippe Pouletty. The company, which uses the
logo "The Transplant Company," plans to change its name from SangStat Medical
Corporation to SangStat, Inc., and drop the logo. "SangStat was initially
solely focused on solid organ transplantation, with a particular focus on the
cyclosporine market; however, recent events have required the company top
reexamine this focus," the company said. SangStat said that success with its
kidney antirejection drug Thymoglobulin (anti-thymocyte globulin, [rabbit]) and
its potential beyond solid organ transplantation markets has provided the
company with the opportunity to take advantage of markets beyond
transplantation. SangStat has terminated all clinical development programs for
SangCya, an oral cyclosporine. Transplant News Network reported on July 15,
2000, that SangCya was recalled because, although it had been rated as
bioequivalent to Novartis's Neoral, a study showed that it was not
bioequivalent when mixed with apple juice. The company also plans to sell its
specialty mail order pharmacy, The Transplant Pharmacy. SangStat expects to
focus on a variety of products. One, called RDP58, originated from research in
organ rejection and is now scheduled to enter human clinical trials for use in
inflammatory bowel disease in 2001. For Your Information: Further details of
SangStat's shift in focus are posted in releases at
www.sangstat.com/press/press_release00-25.html and
www.sangstat.com/press/press_release00-24.html.
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