BioCentury
ARTICLE | Strategy

Aiming for the starting line-up

July 27, 1998 7:00 AM UTC

Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.'s deal for Sepracor Inc.'s norcisapride, a form of the active metabolite in Janssen's Propulsid, should not only extend the life of the $1 billion heartburn drug, but the pharma company hopes that fewer side effects and an added indication will elevate the drug's status from a second line to a first line therapy.

Propulsid, indicated to treat nocturnal heartburn due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), had worldwide sales of more than $1 billion in 1997. But even so Janssen believes its potential has been limited by safety concerns. Cardiac arrhythmias have been reported in patients taking Propulsid with other drugs that also inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (cytochromes are proteins involved in electron transport)...