West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. - Advanced Stage Palliative Prostate Cancer Treatment to Be Offered with West Pharmaceutical Services' Clip'n'Ject(R) Reconstitution System - Press Releases

LIONVILLE, Pa., April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) today announced it has signed a supply agreement with Watson Laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to offer the Clip'n'Ject(R) reconstitution system with TRELSTAR(R) DEPOT and TRELSTAR(R) LA (triptorelin pamoate for injectable suspension) for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer when orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testicles) or estrogen administration are either not indicated or are unacceptable to the patient. TRELSTAR(R), together with the Clip'n'Ject(R) reconstitution system, was made available in the U.S. on April 4, 2005.
"This agreement to supply Clip'n'Ject as the reconstitution and delivery system for TRELSTAR(R) DEPOT and TRELSTAR(R) LA demonstrates our level of confidence in the precision, accuracy and safety of our reconstitution system," said Bill O'Dell, vice president, sales and marketing, West Pharmaceutical Services. "The freeze-drying process of complex drugs creates the additional demand to reconstitute at the point-of-care. We believe Clip'n'Ject simplifies the reconstitution process and as a result improves patient care."
Manufactured by West Pharmaceutical Services, the Clip'n'Ject reconstitution system components are sterilized and packed in a sealed thermoform tray. The system consists of a plastic connector and prefilled diluent syringe that clips to the drug vial. Clip'n'Ject eliminates some of the steps traditionally required for reconstituting a drug at the point-of- care.
West Pharmaceutical Services markets the Clip'n'Ject system for a broad range of therapeutic delivery applications and manufactures the system at its facility in Montgomery, Pa.
ABOUT WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is the world's premier manufacturer of standard-setting components and systems for injectable drug delivery. The Company's products include stoppers and seals for vials, multi-piece tamper- resistant plastic closures and disposable components used in syringe, IV and blood collection systems. The Company also provides products with application to the personal care, food and beverage markets. West's global customer base includes the world's leading manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices. Millions of West products are used by people around the world every day in the delivery of healthcare. Headquartered in Lionville, Pennsylvania, West employs more than 4,500 and supports its partners and customers from 50 locations throughout North America, South America, Europe, Mexico, Japan, Asia and Australia. For more information, visit West at http://www.westpharma.com.
ABOUT TRELSTAR(R)
TRELSTAR(R) DEPOT and TRELSTAR(R) LA (triptorelin pamoate for injectable suspension) are one- and three-month sustained-release formulations of triptorelin, an analog of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH or GnRH) with greater potency than naturally occurring LHRH. The products are approved for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer when orchiectomy or estrogen administration are either not indicated or are unacceptable to the patient. In clinical trials, the most common adverse events occurring in patients were hot flushes, skeletal pain, impotence and headache. As with all LHRH agonists, triptorelin causes an initial transient increase in testosterone levels and may initiate or worsen symptoms during this transient period. Rare post-marketing reports of anaphylactic shock and angioedema have been reported. TRELSTAR(R) is contraindicated for use in women who are or may become pregnant. For additional information, please discuss with your physician or contact Watson Medical Communications at 866-75-J3315.