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Monday August 3, 1998 Company Press Release Schwarz Pharma and Discovery Therapeutics Announce Plans for New Transdermal Patch for Parkinson's Treatment MEQUON, Wisc. and RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 1998--Schwarz Pharma, an international pharmaceutical company with US headquarters in Mequon, and Discovery Therapeutics Inc. (DTI), a privately held company in Richmond, today announced an alliance to develop DTI's novel dopamine agonist delivered in a transdermal patch for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Schwarz Pharma will be responsible for completing development of the transdermal patch and for worldwide marketing, except in Japan. ``The patch revealed strong safety and efficacy features in a clinical phase II study,'' said Patrick Schwarz-Schutte, president and CEO of Schwarz Pharma AG. ``There has been a long-standing need for a once-a-day medication for Parkinson's disease, and thus, this is an excellent fit with our strategy of global search and development for treatments that can address unmet medical needs. We welcome this cooperative agreement with DTI to develop this innovative product.'' Parkinson's disease is a chronic, <snip> Discovery Therapeutics Inc. developed this novel dopamine agonist (N-0923) in a transdermal system to deliver the drug in a once-a-day patch. According to Dr. Donald A. McAfee, president and CEO of Discovery Therapeutics Inc., ``This is a significant step in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and we expect that this patch will provide patients with more consistent control of symptoms and fewer side effects.'' Dr. McAfee also noted that most Parkinson's patients must take several medications each day to control symptoms, and the convenience of a once-a-day patch would be a welcomed improvement. Copyright © 1998 Business Wire. -- Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada [log in to unmask]