Alterna LLC Expands Kerasal Rights Internationally

Whippany, NJ May 18, 2011 – Alterna LLC announced today that is has signed a new trademark and knowhow license agreement with Spirig Pharma AG of Egerkingen, Switzerland. This agreement expands Alterna’s exclusive rights to distribute Kerasal® One-Step Exfoliating Moisturizing Foot Ointment to 80 countries outside of North America. Alterna already owns the Kerasal® brand in North America, having fully acquired all rights to trademarks and product technology in 2006.
Spirig Pharma AG, Egerkingen is known internationally for brands like Daylong actinica®, a medical device for topical application for the prevention of certain forms of non-melanoma skin cancer in at risk patients, Daylong® liposomal sunscreen lotions and Excipial®, a range of skincare and moisturizer products.
Kerasal® foot ointment is clinically proven to soften severely rough, dry, cracked heels and feet by exfoliating and moisturizing skin in one easy step. Kerasal is approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and is the OTC brand recommended most by U.S. podiatrists. In the U.S., Kerasal is available for purchase in the foot care aisle in all major drug store chains and Walmart. According to IRI, retail sales of Kerasal in food, drug, and mass stores (excluding Walmart), were up 24.5% for the 52-week period ending March 20, 2011.
“We are very pleased to increase the depth of our international product portfolio,” says Steve Cagle, President and CEO of Alterna. “Spirig and Alterna have had a positive working relationship for a number of years, and we have been looking for additional avenues of cooperation that will generate win-win results.”
Alterna is making an aggressive push to expand distribution of its products in overseas markets. The significantly enlarged territory for Kerasal® offers a new opportunity, which should fuel the company’s continued sales growth. Since October, Alterna has signed distribution agreements with leading partners in Greece, Mexico, Honduras, Turkey and Trinidad & Tobago. The company’s distributors in Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Middle East have had record sales years, with most business coming from Alterna’s JointFlex® line of topical osteoarthritis pain products.
“We are seeing a strong interest in both Kerasal® and JointFlex® from outside the United States,” says Don Carswell, Director of International Sales at Alterna, “and we plan to serve these markets through top-tier partner companies that are based in-market, to promote and distribute our products.” “We highly welcome the expansion of our successful collaboration with Alterna LLC to a significant number of additional markets worldwide”, says Dr. Silvio Inderbitzin, CEO of Spirig Pharma AG