SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Reaffirming belief in the need for continual, authoritative scrutiny and evaluation of emerging data for incorporation into best practice guidelines, the Women First HealthCare (Nasdaq:WFHC) Health Advisory Board met last week to critically examine the latest research in women's midlife health and menopause, and formulate its 2002 Consensus Report. With nearly 5,500 women turning 50 each day and with 51 the average age women experience menopause, their deliberations are timely and important, particularly in light of ongoing media focus on hormone therapy.
The Women First Health Advisory Board is a group of six internationally recognized experts in women's health care whose academic affiliations include the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Stanford University School of Medicine, Tufts University and Oregon Health & Science University.
Controversial questions examined by the Board during its sessions included:
-- Which healthy postmenopausal women should use estrogen
replenishment therapy?
-- What do we believe about breast cancer and heart disease and
estrogen?
-- What do we believe about Alzheimer's and cognitive thinking with
estrogen use?
-- How proactive should clinicians be in counseling patients to
initiate and/or continue the use of hormone replenishment
therapy/estrogen replenishment therapy?
-- Which patients are selected for oral and transdermal therapy and
why?
-- Should a hormone be switched generically?
The Health Advisory Board's consensus statement on answers to these questions and more will be distributed to the clinician community and available online at www.womenfirst.com in the second quarter of this year. Designed to strengthen the clinician-patient partnership and improve patient care, the Board's 2002 "Test & Treat" Consensus Report will stress preventive health care and individualized patient treatment rather than the traditional "one size fits all" approach to midlife health and menopause. The 2002 Consensus Report is a follow-up to the Board's late 1998 "Gateway to Midlife Health - A Better Way, The First New Approach in 40 Years Focusing on Menopause and Midlife Health."
The Health Advisory Board additionally evaluated product opportunities and reformulation strategies for Women First HealthCare to help women and OB/GYNs. Potential new product acquisitions were prioritized according to need.
"We highly value the input of our Health Advisory Board, which guides Women First in its mission to help midlife women make informed choices regarding their health care, " said Women First chairman, president and CEO, Edward F. Calesa, "and we look forward to sharing the knowledge and recommendations of these leading clinicians and scientists regarding women's health care."
About Women First HealthCare, Inc.
Women First HealthCare, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFHC) is a San Diego-based specialty pharmaceutical company. Founded in 1996, its mission is to help midlife women make informed choices regarding their health care and to provide pharmaceutical products -- the Company's primary emphasis -- and lifestyle products to meet their needs. Women First HealthCare is specifically targeted to women age 40+ and their clinicians. An internationally recognized Health Advisory Board of experts in women's health guides Women First HealthCare in the development of information and products for women and clinicians as women transition from perimenopause through postmenopause. The Company operates in two segments: Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Business. Product focus currently includes estrogen replenishment, headache/pain management, antibacterial/urinary tract infection management, dietary supplementation and self-care/lifestyle. Further information about Women First HealthCare can be found online at www.womenfirst.com, About Us and Investor Relations. Information about the Company's As We Change(r) national mail order catalog and Internet retailer can also be found online at www.aswechange.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, and Women First HealthCare, Inc. cautions you that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Women First HealthCare, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including (i) we have incurred significant losses since we were founded in November 1996, and if midlife women do not use, and their clinicians do not recommend, the products we offer, we will experience losses in the future; (ii) there is a limited market awareness of our Company and the products and services we offer; (iii) we may not be able to identify appropriate licensing or acquisition candidates in the future or to take advantage of the opportunities we identify; (iv) we and our products face significant competition; (v) if we do not successfully manage any growth we experience, we may experience increased expenses without corresponding revenue increases; (vi) we are dependent on single sources of supply for all of the products we offer; (vii) reduced consumer confidence could adversely affect sales by our Consumer Business Division; (viii) we have incurred significant debt obligations which will require us to make debt service payments in the future; and (ix) additional factors set forth in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2000 and its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2001.