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Monday July 20, 8:39 pm Eastern Time

R.P. Scherer form of Parkinson drug cleared

TROY, Mich., July 20 (Reuters) - R.P. Scherer Corp. said Monday it
expects Elan Pharma Ltd. to begin marketing in the United Kingdom,
Zelapar, a treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Scherer said that, at a July 8 meeting, the UK Committee on Safety of
Medicines advised that the drug should be approved and that a license
will be issued imminently.

Zelapar will be marketed by Elan Pharma, a unit of Elan Corp. (ELN -
news). The drug uses Scherer's patented instantly dissolving technology.
Zelapar was developed by Scherer's advanced therapeutic products group
set up in 1993 with the aim of applying the technology to patent-expired
drugs.

The quick-dissolving form of the drug allows 1/8th of the daily dose to
be used with the same therapeutic effect. It has a once-daily dosage and
does not require water to aid swallowing.

R.P. Scherer develops and makes drug delivery systems.
--
Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada
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