Sudler & Hennessey (S&H) has been selected by AstraZeneca as the global agency partner of record for the developmental arthritis treatment PN400.

S&H duties will include developing the strategy, pre-launch branding and launch campaign for the drug.

PN400 is an investigational fixed dose combination of naproxen and immediate release esomeprazole under co-development with specialty drugmaker Pozen. PN 400 is currently in phase III development for patients who require chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammation drug (NSAID) treatment for arthritis pain and are at risk for NSAID associated gastric ulcers.

An NDA is targeted for the first half of 2009, according to AstraZeneca and Pozen.