Alimera Sciences' ILUVIEN® Receives Marketing Authorization In Italy For The Treatment Of Chronic Diabetic Macular Edema

ATLANTA, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alimera Sciences, Inc. ALIM (Alimera), a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, today announced that the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco) has granted marketing authorization to ILUVIEN® for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies. 

The ILUVIEN marketing authorization notice was published on June 18 in the Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, the official journal of record of the Italian government. Designated a C Class product in Italy, ILUVIEN will be available initially to private paying patients. Alimera is pursuing H Class designation for ILUVIEN with the Italian regulatory authorities, which, if granted, would expand patient access to the product.

The Italian authorization is the seventh national approval in the EU, preceded by Austria, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany and Spain. ILUVIEN is commercially available in the U.K. and Germany.

"ILUVIEN has now been granted marketing authorizations in all seven EU countries in which we initially applied," said Dan Myers, Alimera's president and chief executive officer. "Additionally, we are engaged in a Repeat Use Procedure through Mutual Recognition (MRP) to obtain a positive opinion for approval from another10 EU countries."

"This approval is important news for patients in Italy with DME whose disease has evolved to chronic DME," said Dr. Stanislao Rizzo, chairman of the U. O. Chirurgia Oftalmica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy. "ILUVIEN is a valuable option for patients who are not sufficiently responding to other treatments."

About ILUVIEN^®

ILUVIEN (190 micrograms intravitreal implant in applicator) is a sustained release intravitreal implant used to treat vision impairment associated with chronic DME considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies. Each ILUVIEN implant provides a therapeutic effect of up to 36 months by delivering sustained sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc). ILUVIEN is injected in the back of the patient's eye to a position that takes advantage of the eye's natural fluid dynamics. The applicator employs a 25-gauge needle, which allows for a self-sealing wound. In the FAME™ Study, a phase 3 clinical study of ILUVIEN, the most frequently reported adverse drug reactions included cataract development and increased ocular pressure. ILUVIEN has not been approved for sale in the United States.

About Alimera Sciences, Inc.

Alimera Sciences, Inc., headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Alimera's European operations are conducted from London by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alimera Sciences Limited.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things, the regulatory status and potential commercialization of ILUVIEN in Italy and the 10 additional EU countries for which Alimera has applied for approval. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in its forward-looking statements. Meaningful factors which could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, uncertainty as to Alimera's ability to commercialize, and market acceptance of, ILUVIEN in the EU, Alimera's ability to obtain marketing authorization for ILUVIEN in additional EU countries, as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Alimera's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the risks described above and in Alimera's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Alimera's results. There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Alimera will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Alimera. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.

All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Alimera cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Alimera makes or that are made on its behalf. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release (unless another date is indicated). Alimera undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Alimera Sciences, Inc.