WARNER-LAMBERT's LAUNCH OF NITROGARD BUCCAL NITROGLYCERIN

WARNER-LAMBERT's LAUNCH OF NITROGARD BUCCAL NITROGLYCERIN marks the second U.S. introduction of a controlled-release nitroglycerin product developed by Forest Labs. Incorporating Forest's Synchron controlled-release delivery technology, Nitrogard is available in one, two and three milligram tablets for treatment and prevention of angina. Nitrogard shipments began the week of Oct. 3. "Nitrogard provides major therapeutic advantages over other oral nitroglycerin forms, including an onset of action that is faster than any other prophylactic nitrate and a duration of action of up to five hours," Warner-Lambert stated in a press release. "Additionally, Nitrogard's controlled-release transmucosal system also may avoid patient-to-patient variation in nitroglycerin blood levels that can occur with oral nitrates or transdermal nitroglycerin preparations." Forest received approval to market the second generation, controlled-release buccal nitroglycerin product last April under the brandname Sustachron. Warner-Lambert licenses the product for U.S. distribution. Forest introduced its first buccal nitroglycerin product, Suscard, in the U.K. during the fall of 1982. Under a licensing agreement with Forest, Merrell Dow launched the product in the U.S. in 1983 under the brandname Susadrin. Merrell Dow no longer markets Susadrin. At a 1985 analyst presentation, Forest President Howard Solomon attributed Susadrin's lack of market acceptance to bad timing. He noted that the product was introduced just as calcium channel blockers and transdermal nitroglycerin patches were hitting the market. Forest said the new buccal formulation, which is approximately one-third the size of the original tablet, is currently marketed in Europe, Canada, Australia and parts of Asia under the Suscard name.