MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 31, 2011 /CNW/ - Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: DND) today announced that Health Canada has approved CIP-TRAMADOL ER, the Company's extended-release tramadol product, for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults.

"This represents the second regulatory approval for our extended-release tramadol and another important milestone for the Company," said Larry Andrews, President and CEO of Cipher. "We believe our product's unique attributes - including rapid absorption and no food effect - will make it an attractive alternative for Canadian clinicians and chronic pain sufferers."

Cipher is currently preparing to commercialize the product, which includes finalizing sales and marketing plans and manufacturing requirements. The Company expects to launch the product in Q1 2012 under the name Durela™.

In addition, Cipher is on track to launch its extended-release tramadol product in the U.S. market in late Q3 2011 with its marketing partner, Vertical Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Cipher Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage drug development company focused on commercializing novel formulations of successful, currently marketed molecules using advanced drug delivery technologies. Cipher's strategy is to in-license products that incorporate proven drug delivery technologies and advance them through the clinical development and regulatory approval stages, after which the products are out-licensed to international partners. Because Cipher's products are based on proven technology platforms applied to currently marketed drugs, they are expected to have lower approval risk, shorter development timelines and significantly lower development costs. The Company's lead compound is being marketed in the United States by Kowa Pharmaceuticals America under the label Lipofen®. Cipher's second product, an extended-release version of the pain reliever tramadol is expected to be launched in the U.S. market in Q3 2011 and the Company's third product, a novel formulation of the acne treatment isotretinoin, just completed its final Phase III safety study.

Cipher is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'DND' and has approximately 24 million shares outstanding.  For more information, please visit www.cipherpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be forward-looking and therefore subject to various risks and uncertainties. The words "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "forecast", "objective", "hope" and "continue" (or the negative thereof), and words and expressions of similar import, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that could cause results to vary include those identified in the Company's Annual Information Form and other filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, such as the applicability of patents and proprietary technology; possible patent litigation; regulatory approval of products in the Company's pipeline; changes in government regulation or regulatory approval processes; government and third-party payer reimbursement; dependence on strategic partnerships for product candidates and technologies, marketing and R&D services; meeting projected drug development timelines and goals; intensifying competition; rapid technological change in the pharmaceutical industry; anticipated future losses; the ability to access capital to fund R&D; and the ability to attract and retain key personnel. All forward-looking statements presented herein should be considered in conjunction with such filings. Except as required by Canadian securities laws, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements; such statements speak only as of the date made.