Oral Solution of Memantine for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer’s Disease Now Available

NEW YORK, NY – August 18, 2005 – Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) announced today that an oral solution formulation of Namenda®(memantine HCl), the only FDA-approved treatment for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, is now available to physicians, patients, and pharmacies nationwide. Oral solution offers an alternative that may make administration of Namenda easier for those patients who have trouble swallowing tablets, and for those who prefer taking medication in liquid form.

The oral solution of Namenda is equivalent on a milligram per milligram basis to the Namenda tablets and is administered in the same manner. Namenda oral solution is available in a 2 mg/ml concentration, 360 ml (12 oz) bottle.

About Namenda
Namenda (memantine HCl) is the first in a class of medications with a unique mechanism of action that focuses on the glutamate pathway, a target for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, the FDA approved Namenda (October 2003) based on three studies of Namenda used alone or in combination with another Alzheimer’s disease drug.

Namenda is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to memantine HCl or any excipients used in the formulation. The most common adverse events reported with Namenda vs placebo (≥5% and higher than placebo) were dizziness, confusion, headache, and constipation. In patients with severe renal impairment, the dosage should be reduced.

Source: Forest Laboratories, Inc.