The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopts a positive opinion on PALONOSETRON (AloxiTM) Lugano, Switzerland, 17. 12. 2004 (PROTEXT/ots)

the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting associated withhighly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, and * the prevention ofnausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancerchemotherapy. "This marks another significant milestone in thelife of this innovative product and a a rewarding achievement forHelsinn's primary focus on Supportive Care in Cancer. said Dr.Enrico Braglia, Managing Director of Helsinn Healthcare SA. "Weare delighted to offer the oncology community our productAloxiTM through our network of licensees in order to help cancerpatients better cope with chemotherapy side effects". AboutChemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) CINV isestimated to afflict 85% of cancer patients undergoingchemotherapy and can result in a delay or even discontinuationof chemotherapy treatment. The advent of 5-HT3 receptorantagonists has revolutionized the management of nausea andvomiting experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Due to increased number of cancers in the world, the supportivecare area is becoming of paramount importance to help patientsdealing with adverse events of anticancer therapies. Whenpatients support better the anticancer treatment they increasetheir chances to a better quality of life and to a successfultreatment. About Aloxi

AloxiTM is a selective 5-HT3 receptorantagonist with high receptor binding affinity and an extended40-hour plasma half-life has demonstrated its efficacy and safetyin 3 pivotal phase III trials, involving over 2,800 patients, inboth moderately and highly emetogenic settings. The product wasapproved by the FDA in July 2003 For more information aboutAloxi please visit the web site: www.palonosetron.net.

About HELSINN HEALTHCARE SA HELSINN HEALTHCARE SA is aprivately owned pharmaceutical group with headquarters inSwitzerland and is the worldwide licensor of PALONOSETRON HCl -AloxiTM.

HELSINN's core business is the licensing of pharmaceuticalsin niche therapeutic areas. The company's business strategy isto in-license early-stage new chemical entities and completetheir development from the performance of pre-clinical/clinicalstudies and CMC development to the attainment of marketapprovals in strategic markets (U.S. and Europe). HELSINNsproducts are eventually out-licensed to its marketing partnersfor distribution. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and thefinished dosage forms are manufactured at HELSINNs cGMPfacilities and supplied worldwide to its customers. For moreinformation about HELSINN, please visit: www.helsinn.com

Contact person at HELSINN: Paola Bonvicini, Media RelationsE-mail: mediarelations@Helsinn.com

Tel. +41 (0) 91-985-21-21

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