FOURNIER TALKS WITH PHARMACIA ON PIERREL

The French pharmaceutical group Fournier has revealed that it is in advanced discussions with the Swedish pharmaceutical company Pharmacia regarding the latter's Italian drug subsidiary Pierrel.

Fournier is looking to acquire the Italian firm in order to consolidate its position in Italy, Europe's third largest pharmaceutical market. The group acquired an Italian company, Farmasister, towards the end of 1992. Its main products are a low molecular weight heparin, Erevan (glycosaminoglycan polysulfate) and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Zacam (piroxicam). The acquisition of Pierrel would build on the footing already established in Italy with Farmasister, the company said.

Also, Fournier expects to launch shortly in Italy a co-micronized version of its antihyperlipidemia product fenofibrate (Marketletters passim) under the name of Fulcro. Fournier's Italian arm has recently won the license to a treatment for benign hypertrophy of the prostate, Tadenan an extract from pygeum africanum, marketed by Laboratoires Debat, which is part of the Fournier group. The product was previously marketed in Italy by Roussel Uclaf.