Cambridge Laboratories, a specialist pharmaceuticals company, has announced that its partner, OPi SA, has launched Xenazine 25mg (tetrabenazine) in France, following publication in the "Journal Officiel" of its reimbursement price that has been granted by the authorities.

The product has been approved for use in the treatment of movement disorders associated with Huntington's disease, and in the treatment of hemiballismus. Xenazine 25mg is a neuroleptic-like agent that was exclusively licensed by Cambridge Laboratories to OPi in 2003 for commercialisation in France. The product received marketing approval for France in late 2005.

Mark Evans, Cambridge Laboratories CEO, said: "Xenazine has been prescribed by French neurologists for many years for the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders and we are delighted that it is now freely available under reimbursement by Social Security in France through our partner, OPi, for patients suffering with the debilitating effects of chorea associated with Huntington's disease and hemiballismus."

"In France, approximately 6,000 patients suffer from Huntington's disease, a severe and debilitating neurodegenerative disease. Xenazine 25 mg is the first product approved in France for use in this indication and as such, the full availability of this product is a great progress for these patients," commented Dr Gilles Alberici, President and Founder of OPi SA.

Cambridge Laboratories is a fast growing, dynamic and entrepreneurial pharmaceutical company with extensive product development and commercialisation expertise focused on innovative products in oncology and diseases of the central nervous system.