Sobi and Savient Pharmaceuticals Announce Co-Promotion Agreement for Kineret® (anakinra) in the U.S.

CONTACT:

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) AB
Alan Raffensperger
Chief Operating Officer
[phone]

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.             
John P. Hamill
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
[e-mail]
[phone]

Burns McClellan
Caitlyn Murphy
[e-mail]
[phone]

Stockholm, Sweden / Bridgewater, New Jersey, February 19, 2013 - Sobi (STO: Sobi) and Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVNT) announced today that they have entered into an agreement for the co-promotion of Kineret® (anakinra) in the U.S.  

Kineret, a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, is a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)  and indicated for the reduction in signs and symptoms and slowing the progression of structural damage in moderately to severely active RA in patients 18 years of age or older who have failed one or more disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).  Kineret is also indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of children and adults with the severe form of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) called Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID).

"Savient's organization will enhance our support for Kineret in the United States," saidAlan Raffensperger, Chief Operating Officer of Sobi.  "The collaboration will expand our reach to U.S. physicians who treat patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and augment our own ability to directly support the pediatric community. Kineret is an important treatment for these patient groups".

Savient is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that has developed and commercialized KRYSTEXXA^® (pegloticase) for the treatment of refractory chronic gout in the U.S.  Savient's specialized sales force has strong, established relationships with rheumatologists in the U.S., making Savient an excellent partner for Sobi.

"We are pleased to announce the collaboration with Sobi," said Lou Ferrari, President and Chief Executive Officer of Savient. "Kineret complements the strategic direction and focus of Savient, as we continue to build upon our existing relationships with rheumatologists and patients while marketing our own product, KRYSTEXXA. We look forward to working with Sobi to make Kineret more widely available to patients with rheumatoid arthritis."

Under the terms of the agreement, Sobi has granted to Savient the exclusive right to co-promote the sale of Kineret with Sobi in the U.S.  Savient will market and promote Kineret beginning April 1, 2013.  Sobi will remain responsible for all Kineret commercial drug manufacturing, supply, safety, and regulatory activities.