Ribapharm Inc.

Ribapharm Inc. was acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. Ribapharm, Inc. engages in the development, acquisition, and commercialization of products for the treatment of diseases principally in the antiviral and anticancer areas. The company's focuses its research and development program on hepatitis C, hepatitis B, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The company’s primary product is Ribavirin, an antiviral drug that was licensed to Schering-Plough, Ltd. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd. (Roche) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in combination with Schering-Plough's interferon alfa-2b or Roche’s pegylated interferon alfa-2b in the United States, the European Union, Japan, and other countries. The other products, which are in the development stage are Levovirin for stimulation of an immune response to viral infections that is in the Phase One clinical trials; Viramidine for the treatment of hepatitis C that is in the Phase Two clinical trials; Tiazole for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis and ovarian cancer; and Adenazole for the treatment of colon cancer that is in Phase One study. The company has licensing rights for Hepavir B for the treatment of hepatitis B from Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc.; and IL-12, a developmental compound for the treatment of cancer and allergies from Roche. In January 2003, Daniel J. Paracka was elected to be the chairman; and Kim D. Lamon was appointed to be the president and chief executive officer. In February 2003, William M. Comer, Jr. was appointed to be the chief financial officer.