Nuvo Research and Covidien sign U.S. license and development agreement for Pennsaid(R) and Pennsaid Plus(R)

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 16 /CNW/ - Nuvo Research Inc. (TSX: NRI) a Canadian
drug development company focused on the research and development of drug
products delivered to and through the skin using its topical and transdermal
drug delivery technologies, today announced that it has entered into a license
and development agreement with Mallinckrodt Inc., a subsidiary of Covidien
(NYSE:COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, granting it
exclusive rights to market and sell Pennsaid(R), and its follow-on product,
Pennsaid Plus(R), in the United States.
    Pennsaid and Pennsaid Plus are Nuvo's topical non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug ("NSAID") candidates. Nuvo has been advised by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") that it expects to respond to Nuvo's
resubmitted new drug application for Pennsaid by August 5, 2009.
    Under the terms of the license and development agreement, Nuvo will
receive an up-front, non-refundable payment of US$10 million. In addition,
Nuvo is eligible to receive a US$15 million milestone payment on Pennsaid's
approval by the FDA, which will increase to US$20 million if certain labeling
criteria are agreed to by the FDA. Nuvo will receive royalties on net U.S.
sales of Pennsaid and Pennsaid Plus at rates that are consistent with industry
standards for products at similar stages of development. Nuvo will be eligible
to receive additional escalating sales milestone payments for the products
totaling up to US$100 million.
    Covidien will assume responsibility for all future development activities
and expenses for Pennsaid Plus, including two Phase 3 clinical trials that
Covidien expects to commence in 2010. Covidien has a right to negotiate with
Nuvo on an exclusive basis for a period of 90 days to expand the licensed
territory to include additional unlicensed countries worldwide. Nuvo will
manufacture and supply Pennsaid and Pennsaid Plus to Covidien from its
existing manufacturing facility in Varennes, Québec.
    Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company with revenues of
nearly US$10 billion in 2008, and more than 41,000 employees in 59 countries
worldwide. Its products are sold in more than 140 countries. A market study
commissioned by Nuvo estimates that the market for topical NSAIDs will grow to
US$2 billion annually within five years.
    "Covidien is an ideal partner with the infrastructure, market reach,
resources and commitment to maximize the commercial potential of Pennsaid and
Pennsaid Plus," said Dan Chicoine, Chairman of Nuvo. "It is aggressively
adding resources to maximize the value of the Pennsaid/Pennsaid Plus franchise
and pursue its strategy of becoming a global presence in the treatment of
pain."

    About Pennsaid and Pennsaid Plus

    Pennsaid, Nuvo's lead product, combines a transdermal carrier (containing
dimethyl sulfoxide, popularly known as "DMSO") with diclofenac sodium, a
leading non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ("NSAID"), and delivers the
active drug through the skin directly to the site of pain. Pennsaid Plus is
the follow-on product candidate to Pennsaid. Pennsaid Plus will feature a
twice-daily dosing regime as a gel formulation.

    About Nuvo Research Inc.

    Nuvo is focused on the research and development of drug products
delivered to and through the skin using its topical and transdermal drug
delivery technologies. Nuvo's lead product is Pennsaid, a topical
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Nuvo intends to leverage its
skin-penetrating technologies to create a portfolio of topical and transdermal
products targeting a variety of indications.
    Nuvo is a publicly traded, Canadian pharmaceutical company headquartered
in Mississauga, Ontario, with manufacturing facilities in Varennes, Québec and
Wanzleben, Germany and a research and development Center in San Diego,
California. For more information, please visit www.nuvoresearch.com

    This document contains forward-looking statements. Some forward-looking
statements may be identified by words like "expects", "anticipates", "plans",
"intends", "indicates" or similar expressions. These forward-looking
statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the
forward-looking statements. Nuvo considers the assumptions on which these
forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were
prepared, but caution that these assumptions regarding future events, many of
which are beyond the control of the Company, may ultimately prove to be
incorrect. Factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from current expectations, are discussed in the annual report, as
well as in Nuvo's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31,
2008. Nuvo disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements whether a result of new information or future
events, except as required by law. For additional information on risks and
uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements, investors should
consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings, annual report and Annual
Information Form and other filings found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com

For further information: about Nuvo, please contact: Media and Investor
Relations, Adam Peeler, The Equicom Group Inc., Tel: (416) 815-0700 x225,
email: apeeler@equicomgroup.com