Bock Pharmacal Company introduces Prenate Ultra, a new level of safety in prenatal vitamins.

ST. LOUIS--(HealthWire)--August 20, 1996--

New Iron Formulation Addresses Leading Cause

of Pediatric Poisoning Death

Bock Pharmacal Company today announced the launch of Prenate(R) Ultra(TM), a new and unique prescription prenatal vitamin which utilizes a form of iron 100 times less toxic than the form used in traditional prenatal vitamins.

Iron containing supplements are a leading cause of accidental poisoning in children under the age of six in the United States. The number of young children who have accidentally swallowed iron has more than doubled in the last decade, involving more than 110,000 children.

"Prenate Ultra was developed in response to the alarming increase in accidental iron overdose in children," said Lawrence B. Moskoff, Chairman and CEO of Bock Pharmacal. "Pregnant women are likely to have other young children in the home. With this product, Bock is able to offer essential prenatal nutrition to mothers, while helping to ensure the safety of children in the home."

Traditionally, iron nutritional supplements, including prenatal vitamins, have utilized ferrous iron salts because they are easily absorbed by the body. However, the safety of these iron preparations has become a serious concern with the continual rise of the number of children ingesting harmful, and sometimes fatal, doses of iron.

Prenate Ultra utilizes MicroIron II(TM) (micro-particulate carbonyl iron), a highly purified form of elemental iron. Studies have shown that carbonyl iron is a safe and effective substitute for ferrous iron salts. Data from animal studies suggest carbonyl iron may be as much as 100 times less toxic that ferrous iron salts.

A typical prenatal vitamin utilizing ferrous iron salts to deliver 60-65 mg of elemental iron is lethal to a 10kg (22lb) child with the ingestion of just 45-50 tablets. By comparison, the same child would have to ingest over 3,300 tablets (more than 30 bottles) of Prenate Ultra to risk the same lethal effect.

Prenate Ultra is indicated for use as a nutritional supplement prior to conception, as well as during pregnancy and lactation. Prenate Ultra combines MicroIron II and Citracal(R) calcium (patented, UltraDense(TM) calcium citrate). Citracal calcium is less dependent on stomach acid than calcium carbonate and other calcium salts commonly found in prenatal vitamins. Citracal calcium works together with MicroIron II to maximize absorption of both.

Prenate Ultra contains beta carotene and 1 mg of folic acid. Docusate sodium is also added as a precautionary stool softener. Prenate Ultra is kosher certified. Bock has led the prenatal vitamin market with Prenate 90(R), the number one prescribed prenatal vitamin in the US, from 1993-1995.

With over 50 years of experience in the healthcare arena, Bock Pharmacal Company of St. Louis, MO, is an emerging leader in the marketing and development of ethical, branded pharmaceutical products with an emphasis on women's health and respiratory products. On July 16, 1996, Sanofi, Inc. announced that it would acquire Bock Pharmacal Company.

CONTACT: Kristin DiCarlo

Bock Pharmacal

314/579-0770

or

Merrie Deitch

Burns McClellan

212/505-1919