Lupin Ltd. has entered into a promotion agreement for Suprax 400 mg tablets with Ascend Therapeutics, Inc. Under the terms of the alliance, Ascend Therapeutics will initiate promotion of the product in the US in the month of June 2008.

Ascend has a 50-person Women's Health sales force which will detail the product primarily to obstetricians and gynaecologists (OB/GYN). Lupin will continue to promote the product to paediatricians and family practitioners.

The antibiotic market for treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is US $450 million, and the OB/GYN area is among the top three physician specialties prescribing antibiotics for treatment of UTIs.

Dr Kamal Sharma, managing director, Lupin, said, "We are pleased to enter into this strategic alliance with Ascend. We believe Ascend's existing equity with the OB/GYN specialty will help Lupin to fully explore and leverage an additional opportunity for promoting Suprax 400 mg tablets. This alliance reflects our commitment to extend Suprax franchise and enhance the value of brand business in the US".

There are over eight million patients who suffer from UTIs each year, with the vast majority of women. Suprax 400 mg tablets are an established antibiotic with a favourable safety profile and proven track record in effectively treating UTIs and other bacterial infections.