Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. has announced that Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan plans to launch Visiclear tablets for colon cleansing in Japan on June 15, 2007.

Visiclear, or sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, tablets are marketed in the United States under the trade name Visicol.

In August 2001, InKine Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. (acquired by Salix in September 2005) licensed exclusive commercial rights in Japan to the product, the first approved and marketed tablet formulation colon cleansing agent, to Zeria.

Zeria recently received marketing approval and NHI pricing for the product. Visiclear will be the only tablet formulation colon cleansing agent available in Japan. Approximately two million colonoscopy procedures are performed in Japan on an annual basis.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

Salix markets Colazal (balsalazide) capsules, Xifaxan (rifaximin) tablets, Osmoprep (sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, USP, and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, USP) tablets, Moviprep (PEG-3350, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid for Oral Solution), Visicol tablets (sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, USP, and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous), Pepcid (famotidine) for oral suspension, Diuril (chlorothiazide) suspension, Azasan (Azathioprine Tablets, USP), Anusol-HC (Hydrocortisone Cream, USP) and Proctocort (Hydrocortisone Cream, USP). Balsalazide disodium tablets, Granulated Mesalamine, Sanvar (600 ug vials vapreotide acetate powder) and Xifaxan are under development for additional indications.

Visicol tablets are indicated for cleansing of the bowel as a preparation for colonoscopy, in adults 18 years of age or older. Visicol tablets are virtually taste-free, can be taken with any clear liquid such as water, lemonade or ginger ale, and have been proven to be associated with significantly less nausea, vomiting and bloating than the leading, currently-available, prescribed class of liquid bowel preparations.