OVATION Pharmaceuticals Donates More than $2.8 Million in 2008 Global Humanitarian Programs

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a continued effort to address the unmet medical needs of people suffering from severe illnesses, OVATION Pharmaceuticals donated more than $2.8 million in specialty medications to global humanitarian missions serving developing nations and countries in crisis. Product donations were distributed in Tajikistan, Africa and Guatemala through two international humanitarian assistance organizations – AmeriCares and Project HOPE.

“The medicines donated by OVATION allowed Project HOPE to reach a group of patients with hard-to-treat illnesses who otherwise may not have access to treatment.”

“As a pharmaceutical company focused on treatments where there is significant unmet medical need, we believe making a positive impact on the health of underserved global communities is an important goal,” said Jeffrey S. Aronin, President and Chief Executive Officer of OVATION. “Enabling patients to have access to potentially life saving medications they need, even in countries where treatment options are limited, is part of our higher purpose as a company.”

AmeriCares, an international relief organization, arranged for a U.S.-based pediatric heart surgery team to travel to Guatemala to provide charitable medical care. OVATION supported the “Guatemala Heart Mission” by donating vials of medication to treat infants with patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart defect where a blood vessel (ductus arteriosus) in the heart fails to close after birth.

The majority of the company’s product donations were distributed through Project HOPE, a not-for-profit international health education and humanitarian assistance organization. OVATION’s partnership with Project HOPE helped deliver needed medications to hospitals and clinics in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, as well as to the Congo and Lesotho, Africa, through the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Sentebale Trust, founded by Prince Harry of the British Royal Family and Prince Seeioso of the Lesotho Royal Family.

The Sentebale Trust and the Minister of Health work together to improve the lives of Basotho children. OVATION’s donation helped treat children with rare cancers.

“The medicines donated by OVATION allowed Project HOPE to reach a group of patients with hard-to-treat illnesses who otherwise may not have access to treatment.” said Pat Bacuros, Director, In-Kind Giving, Project HOPE.

About OVATION Pharmaceuticals

OVATION is a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets medically necessary therapies to satisfy unmet medical needs for patients with severe illnesses. Headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., with products available in more than 85 countries, OVATION is committed to having a significant impact on patients' lives through its focus on CNS, hematology/oncology, and hospital-based therapies. The three new launches the company expects over the next three years will be fueled largely by its late-stage CNS pipeline, which is one of the most robust in the industry. OVATION has been recognized for excellence in the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with the 2006 and 2007 "Pharma Company of the Year" award from Scrip magazine for small to mid-sized enterprises. More information about the company, its products and full prescribing information may be found at http://www.ovationpharma.com/.