Abbott To Market Fournier's Fenofibrate

Abbott Laboratories has licensed US marketing rights to Fournier'smicronized formulation of its lipid-lowering agent fenofibrate. The US Food and Drug Administration approved a supplemental New Drug Application for the more potent micronized form in late December 1997.

Abbott will market the drug for the treatment of adults with hypertriglyceridemia, especially types IV and V hyperlipidemia which are not controlled through diet alone (and which have been linked to the development of pancreatitis).

Paul Clark, Abbott's senior vice president for pharmaceutical operations, said that with the aging of the population in the USA and increased awareness of the importance of maintaining normal lipid levels, this market segment promised "to support continued growth into the foreseeable future."