SAN DIEGO, April 5, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Presenting at the Banc of America Securities Healthcare Conference in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 4, Women First HealthCare, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFHC) chairman, president and CEO Edward F. Calesa told attendees the Company has now secured three of the four largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to support its lead product, Esclim(tm), a transdermal estrogen patch. Effective January 2002, AdvancePCS selected Esclim(tm) for its highest priority Performance Drug List. Effective March 2002, both Caremark Inc. and Express Scripts, Inc. selected Esclim(tm) in a preferred position. Collectively, this represents 150 million lives and $84 million in estimated total patch sales annually.
Calesa told conference attendees, "These important PBM listings support planned growth for Esclim(tm) in 2002, which is central to our strategy of organic growth. It is noteworthy that a Company our size has secured such strong support from managed care. The listings reflect the quality and therapeutic value of our product and the efforts of our national account team."
Women First markets Esclim(tm) exclusively in the U.S. under a distribution and licensing agreement with Laboratoires Fournier SA of France. Esclim(tm) 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(tm) 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(tm) 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. For more information about this product and to see the package insert, please visit www.womenfirst.com, Rx Products area.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains "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) 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, 2001.