SPI Pharmaceuticals to Market Drug in Mexico
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COSTA MESA — SPI Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday that it has received approval from the Mexican government for use of its antiviral cream Virazole to treat shingles and genital herpes.
Virazole, also known as Vilona and Virazide in Mexico, is a ribavirin-based cream that has been used in the United States and 20 other countries as an aerosol to treat infants with lung infections.
SPI, a subsidiary of ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc., said that 90% of the herpes zoster, or shingles, and genital herpes patients on whom the cream was tested in Mexico responded favorably. Spokesman Paul Knopick said the company may eventually file for U.S. certification of the drug for herpes and shingles treatment as clinical data is gathered from foreign usage.
About 1.7 million Mexicans, an estimated 2% of the population, are believed to suffer from genital herpes, the government reports. Another 4.2 million potentially would use the drug as a shingles treatment.
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