Pfizer Canada Introduces Toviaz(TM), A New Treatment for Canadians Suffering from Overactive Bladder

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - June 6, 2012) - Pfizer Canada announced today that Toviaz^™ (fesoterodine fumarate extended release tablets) is now available in Canada. Toviaz is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, or urge incontinence, or any combination of these symptoms.²

Overactive bladder is a condition that affects one in five Canadian women over the age of 35 and one in seven Canadian men over the age of 35³, yet remains under-treated. It is estimated that fewer than 9 percent of sufferers have been diagnosed, although 24 percent of sufferers describe their condition as "a great concern" that impacts negatively on their quality of life.⁴ People with OAB often delay seeking help and wait an average of 3 years before consulting a physician.⁵

Dr. Sender Herschorn, Professor and Chair, Division of Urology at the University of Toronto, says that research is demonstrating that OAB is much more common than physicians originally believed and impacts more negatively on people's sense of health and well-being than what was previously thought.⁶ "One possible reason for this is that patients may be embarrassed to discuss their overactive bladder symptoms with a physician," said Dr. Herschorn. "They often develop coping strategies, such as planning "escape routes" to restrooms in public places, which allow them to delay seeking treatment. Many rely on adult pads and diapers, restrict their fluid intake, and restrict their activities and interactions to situations where they can be sure a washroom is always nearby."

Toviaz is the newest addition to Pfizer's OAB portfolio

"Given Pfizer Canada's long heritage in the overactive bladder market with Detrol and Detrol LA, we understand that experiences and challenges with overactive bladder differ from patient to patient," said Dr. Bernard Prigent, Vice-President and Medical Director, Pfizer Canada. "The approval of Toviaz gives Canadian physicians a new option to help address these challenges for patients."

Toviaz is available in two doses, 4 mg and 8 mg to be taken once daily, and is now available in Canadian pharmacies.⁷

The approval of Toviaz by Health Canada is based on two Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week studies. The trials randomized 1,135 and 836 patients respectively. The co-primary endpoints were the change from baseline to week 12 in the average number of micturitions per 24 hours and a change from baseline to week 12 in the average number of urge urinary incontinence episodes per 24 hours (US analysis) or treatment response derived from the Treatment Benefit Scale (European analysis). The safety of Toviaz was primarily evaluated in Phase 2 and 3 controlled trials in a total of 2859 patients with overactive bladder of which 2,288 were treated with fesoterodine.⁸

About Pfizer Canada

Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc, one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Pfizer Canada has nearly 3,000 employees working at six facilities across Canada and in many other communities in every province. They are the heart of Pfizer's ability to contribute significantly to Canadians' health and economic well-being through the company's provision of prescription and non-prescription medicines, vaccines, generic medicines, and animal health products, as well as its investments and job-creation in research and development and manufacturing.

Every day, Pfizer Canada employees work to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships, to our belief that it takes more than medication to be truly healthy. To learn more about Pfizer's More Than Medication™ philosophy and programs, visit www.morethanmedication.ca. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit www.pfizer.ca.

¹ Nitti VW et al. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of fesoterodine for overactive bladder syndrome. J Urol 2007;178:2488-2494.

² Chapple C et al. Clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once-daily fesoterodine in subjects with overactive bladder. Eur Urol 2007;52:1204-1212.

³ Corcos, J; Schick, E; et al. Prevalence of Overactive Bladder and incontinence in Canada. The Canadian Journal of Urology. 2004; 11: 2281-84.

⁴ Khullar V, Chapple C, Gabriel Z, et al. The effects of antimuscarinics on health-related quality of life in overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Urology 2006;68(2 Suppl):38-48.

⁵ Milsom, I, et al. How widespread are the symptoms of an overactive bladder and how are they managed? A population-based prevalence study. BJU Int. 2001; 87: 760-766.

⁶ Canadian Continence Association. Impacts of Incontinence in Canada. A briefing document for policy makers. May 2009

⁷ Pfizer Canada Inc. TOVIAZ Product Monograph. February 2012

⁸ Nitti VW et al. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of fesoterodine for overactive bladder syndrome. J Urol 2007;178:2488-2494