PRNewswire - Monday November 9, 1998

"Boehringer Ingelheim is pleased with the attention that Viramune(R) has received recently from both physicians and patients world-wide," stated Prof. Rolf Krebs, Vice Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors and responsible for the Division Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim. "We're committed to the ongoing study of Viramune(R), as well as to pursuing other treatments that could benefit the HIV community."

According to independent researchers working with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop a significant long-term clinical trial plan for Viramune(R), the company is on the right track. "We're pleased that the company is moving forward with important Viramune(R) research," said Prof. Julio Montaner, from the Canadian HIV Trial Network. "Viramune(R) has proven to be a promising and potent agent that, when used with the right combinations, can greatly benefit people living with HIV. However, we believe that its true potential has not fully been recognized, and look forward to exploring the compound in novel new combination regimens and patient populations."

"We are excited by the opportunity to study Viramune(R) in large, multi-centered clinical trials," added Prof. Joep Lange of the National AIDS Therapy Centre, Amsterdam. "The trials will be designed to not only look at its activity in combination with available AIDS drugs, but will also study Viramune(R) with investigational drugs with an eye toward the future."

Viramune(R) belongs to a class of drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Viramune(R) is indicated for use in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. This indication is based on analysis of changes in surrogate end-points.

Viramune(R) is generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported adverse events associated with Viramune(R) are rash, fever, nausea, headache and abnormal liver function tests. Severe and life-threatening skin reactions and hepatotoxicity, including fatal cases of each, have occurred in patients treated with Viramune(R).

Viramune(R) (nevirapine) is a product of original research done at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies. Viramune(R) is marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim and in the United States by Roxane Laboratories, also a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group of companies.

Boehringer Ingelheim, headquartered in Ingelheim (Germany), is the largest 100% family-owned pharmaceutical company and ranks among the top 20 in the world. It reported revenues exceeding DM 8.2 billion in 1997.

The corporation has some 160 operating entities and it conducts business on every continent. Its product range is focused on human pharmaceuticals -- hospital, prescription and self-medication -- as well as animal health. The company has substantial research and development, production, and distribution facilities around the globe. In 1997 Boehringer Ingelheim spent DM 1.5 billion on R&D, equivalent to 18% of total sales.

SOURCE: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
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