Germany's Schwarz Opens New European Units Amid High Hopes

German drug producer Schwarz Pharma has expanded its European presence, incorporating new affiliates in Austria and Switzerland. The new Austrian unit, to be known as Schwarz Pharma GmbH, will sell peripheral arterial closure treatment Prostavasin (alprostadil) and the company's coronorary heart disease product line directly, replacing Schwarz's local distribution partnership arrangements. The company indicated that high expectations for its Parkinson's disease patch Neupro (rotigotine) prompted the establishment of a separate local subsidiary.

Swiss regulators recently accepted new drug application files for Neupro, which the company will also market directly through a new local affiliate. Meanwhile, Schwarz has repurchased a number of other previously licensed products and will now market drugs including angina pectoris treatment Deponit under its own brand.