Questcor to Initiate Pilot Commercialization Effort for HP Acthar Gel

Questcor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: QCOR) today announced its intent to initiate a pilot commercialization effort for H.P. Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) for the treatment of respiratory manifestations of symptomatic sarcoidosis, a potentially serious, difficult-to-treat disorder already included on the FDA-approved package insert for Acthar. The pilot effort will focus on pulmonologists, who are the respiratory specialists treating this rare autoimmune disorder.The company anticipates hiring and training a small, pilot sales force of five to ten sales representatives during the current quarter, with introductory sales calls expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. While this approach mirrors the pilot commercial efforts by Questcor in neurology, nephrology and rheumatology, there can be no assurance that this initiative will lead to a fully-sized pulmonology sales force or that the company's efforts with respect to this disorder will otherwise be successful.