CORAL GABLES, Florida, May 6 /PRNewswire/ --

- Acquisition of dermal filler product enhances company's aesthetic portfolio

Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., the world's largest independent pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology, announced today that it has acquired ABR Invent and ABR Development, developers of the dermal filler Atlean(R).

Stiefel will acquire all shares of ABR Invent and ABR Development through a definitive stock purchase agreement. Both ABR Invent and ABR Development are legal entities based in France.

"Stiefel Laboratories has been looking for the right dermal filler to add to our aesthetic portfolio for quite some time," said Charles W. Stiefel, chairman and CEO, Stiefel Laboratories. "After conducting due diligence and extensive research, our team made an offer to ABR Development, a company whose innovation, expertise and product portfolio will significantly strengthen our position in the global aesthetics market. We are delighted that our proposal was accepted."

Atlean(R) dermal filler is currently commercialized in France and Italy and distribution and manufacturing agreements for the product will remain in place throughout Europe. All sales representatives formerly employed by ABR Development will now become employees of Stiefel Laboratories.

Over the next 18 months, Stiefel plans to launch Atlean(R) dermal filler in multiple areas, including parts of Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. The company will continue clinical development of Atlean(R) dermal filler in order to expeditiously submit the product for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies around the world. Stiefel also expects to develop other products from the ABR portfolio.

According to Bill Humphries, president, Stiefel Laboratories, the company is optimistic that Atlean(R) dermal filler will be approved globally in key aesthetic markets.

"The use of dermal fillers is growing worldwide at a very rapid pace," said Humphries. "Stiefel chose to add Atlean(R) dermal filler to our product portfolio so that we can submit a unique and broader offering of options to our valued physician partners and they can, in turn, offer these products to their patients."

Atlean(R) dermal filler uses a combination of tricalcium phosphate particles (Beta-TCP) suspended in a hyaluronic acid gel. The injectable product is recommended for sculpting and remodelling the face.

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in skin tissue, transporting and delivering water to the skin, and contributing to its elasticity. As key ingredients in Atlean(R) dermal filler, hyaluronic acid facilitates an immediate and temporary volumizing effect, and the micro particles of Beta-TCP, by stimulating endogenous synthesis of collagen, contribute to the sustained effects of the product.

The acquisition of ABR gives Stiefel the opportunity to enter the rapidly growing dermal filler market, which is estimated to reach more than US$1 billion in 2010 as more people around the world seek rejuvenation options rather than invasive surgery.

About Atlean(R) Dermal Filler

Atlean(R) dermal filler is a bio-resorbable sculpting and modeling dermal volumizer/filler with hyaluronic acid (HA) plus tricalcium phosphate (Beta-TCP) particles. Atlean(R) dermal filler is implanted subcutaneously or intra-dermally.

The gel contains micro-particles of TCP(R), a bio-compatible, biodegradable, immunologically inert, non-toxic, synthetic ceramic belonging to the calcium phosphate chemical family. It is capable of complete and controlled resorption.

Atlean(R) dermal filler has a CE-Mark granted in 2006 and it is commercialized in France and Italy.

About Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.

Founded in 1847, Stiefel Laboratories (a privately held company) is the world's largest independent pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology. The company manufactures and markets a variety of prescription and non-prescription dermatological products. Some of the newest and best-known brands include Duac(R) Topical Gel (clindamycin, 1% - benzoyl peroxide, 5%) available in the Duac(R) Care System (CS); Evoclin(R) (clindamycin phosphate) Foam, 1%; Luxiq(R) (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%; MimyX(R) Cream; Olux(R) (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05% and Olux-E(TM) (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05% also available in the Olux(R) / Olux-E(TM) COMPLETE PACK; Soriatane(R) (acitretin) Capsules available in the Soriatane(R) CK CONVENIENCE KIT; Verdeso(R) (desonide) Foam, 0.05%; Brevoxyl(R)-4 Creamy Wash (benzoyl peroxide 4%) and Brevoxyl(R)-8 Creamy Wash (benzoyl peroxide 8%) packaged in the Brevoxyl(R) Acne Wash Kit; Extina(R) (ketoconazole) Foam, 2%; Oilatum(R) Cleansing Bar; Physiogel(R) Cream; Stieprox(R) (ciclopirox olamine) Shampoo; REVALESKIN(TM) Skin Care Products; and Sarna(R) Lotion. Its wholly-owned global network is comprised of more than 30 subsidiaries, manufacturing plants in six countries, research and development facilities on four continents, and products marketed in more than 100 countries around the world.

Stiefel Laboratories supplements its R&D efforts by seeking strategic partnerships and acquisitions around the world. To learn more about Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. visit www.stiefel.com .

Web site: http://www.stiefel.com

Media: Erin Bacher, Associate Director, +1-678-889-4039, erin.bacher@stiefel.com, Amy Button, Coordinator, +1-678-714-4153, amy.button@stiefel.com, both of Global Public Relations for Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.