SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Women First HealthCare, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFHC), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that its Esclim(tm) (estradiol transdermal system), Ortho-est(r) Tablets (estropipate, USP), and Midrin(r) (isometheptene mucate, USP, dichloralphenazone, USP and acetaminophen, USP) are available to all Medco Plan Sponsors with no intervention from Medco. Medco Health Solutions Inc., formerly Merck-Medco, is one of the country's largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Beginning October 1, 2002, all five doses of Esclim will be available to Medco Plan Sponsors, as will Ortho-est Tablets and Midrin.
Commenting on the addition, Saundra Childs, Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Division said, "Medco Health has now joined AdvancePCS, Caremark and Express Scripts in offering Esclim to plan sponsors. Our acceptance by all four major PBMs provides both positive reimbursement for patients and a strong selling point to clinicians. We are very pleased to form an alliance with Medco Health, which manages 21% of all U.S. prescriptions."
Medco Health is one of the nation's leading PBMs and serves approximately 65 million patients. In 2001, they managed more than 537 million prescriptions through their 12 home delivery pharmacies and nationwide network of more than 58,000 retail pharmacies.
Women First markets Esclim exclusively in the U.S. under a distribution and licensing agreement with Laboratoires Fournier SA of France. Esclim is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of vasomotor menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. Its active ingredient is estradiol, the principal form of estrogen produced naturally by a woman's ovaries during the reproductive years. The Esclim transdermal patch system offers maximum dosing flexibility with five dosage options (0.025, 0.0375, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1 mg/day) and is applied twice weekly. Esclim provides a unique ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix system with flexible foam backing to assure suppleness that follows the movements of a woman's skin.
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. Further information about Women First HealthCare can be found online at www.womenfirst.com, About Us and Investor Relations.
About Esclim(tm)
Esclim(tm) (estradiol transdermal system) is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. The most commonly reported side effects of Esclim(tm) are those typical of estrogen replenishment therapy: breast tenderness, headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. Estrogens have been reported to increase the risk of endometrial carcinoma in postmenopausal women. Estrogens are contraindicated in patients with known or suspected pregnancy, undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding, known or suspected breast cancer, known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia, or active thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders.
About Ortho-Est(r) Tablets
Ortho-est(r) Tablets are approved by the FDA for the treatment of vasomotor menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. The product is additionally approved by the FDA for postmenopausal women for the prevention of osteoporosis.
About Midrin(r)
Midrin(r) is indicated for relief of tension and vascular headaches. Midrin(r) is contraindicated in glaucoma and/or severe cases of renal disease, hypertension, organic heart disease, hepatic disease and in those patients who are on monoamine-oxidase (MAO) inhibitor therapy. Caution should be observed in hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and after recent cardiovascular attacks. Adverse reactions can include transient dizziness and skin rash in hypersensitive patients, which can usually be eliminated by reducing dosage.
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 acquisition, licensing, or co-promotion candidates in the future or to take advantage of the opportunities we identify; (iv) we and our products face significant competition; (v) our products may not achieve or maintain market acceptance for a variety of reasons, including as a result of recent research published by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health concerning estrogen replenishment therapy and combination estrogen/progestin hormonal replenishment therapy in healthy menopausal women, respectively; (vi) if we do not successfully manage any growth we experience, we may experience increased expenses without corresponding revenue increases; (vii) we are dependent on single sources of supply for all of the products we offer; (viii) reduced consumer confidence could adversely affect sales by our Consumer Business Division; (ix) our third party suppliers and licensors may terminate their agreements with us earlier than we expect, and as a result we may be unable to continue to market and sell the related pharmaceutical products on an exclusive basis or at all; (x) we have incurred significant debt obligations which will require us to make debt service payments in the future; (xi) we may not be successful in our efforts to establish strategic alliances for the sales of our existing products in new markets; and (xii) 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, 2001 and its Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002.