RESUMEN
Rhône-Poulenc Rorer (RPR) developed Synercid (RP-59500), an injectable synergistic combination of quinupristin and dalfopristin as a treatment for a variety of infections caused by Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. The treatment was approved in the UK in July 1999, for use in patients with nosocomial pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections and clinically significant infections due to Enterococcus faecium when there is no other active antibacterial agent [337556,335257]. It was launched in the UK and the US in September 1999 [342899]. In December 1999, Synercid successfully completed the Mutual Recognition Procedure in the EU under Aventis Pharma for use in patients with these infections [351525]. In September 2000, Merrill Lynch predicted first-year sales in 1999 of Euro 15 million, rising to Euro 171 million in 2004 [384874]. In January 1999, BT Alex Brown predicted sales of US $88 million in 1999 rising to US $450 million in 2002 [318220]. In April 1999, ABN Amro predicted annual sales of DM 30 million in 1999, rising to DM 150 million in 2002 [328676].