Obagi Medical Products Launches SoluCLENZ Rx Gel, The Only Prescription Solubilized Benzoyl Peroxide For Acne

Main Category: Dermatology
Article Date: 13 Aug 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMPI), a leader in topical aesthetic and therapeutic skin health systems, announced the launch of SoluCLENZ Rx Gel™, a solubilized benzoyl peroxide (BPO) gel for the treatment of acne. SoluCLENZ Rx Gel will be available only by prescription starting in mid-August and will be promoted by Obagi Medical's specialty dermatology sales force.

SoluCLENZ Rx Gel contains 5% solubilized BPO, which enhances the follicular penetration of BPO. Traditional BPO formulations are poorly soluble and many contain micro and macro crystals that may be too large to enter the follicles and treat acne at the source. Based on a series of clinical studies conducted over the past several years, Obagi Medical has consistently demonstrated that SoluCLENZ Rx Gel is a novel treatment alternative that provides clinically significant lesion reductions that are comparable to the leading prescription BPO/antibiotic combination products, without the use of a topical antibiotic.

"At Obagi Medical, we pride ourselves on being business partners with physicians and delivering innovative skin health products," said Steven Carlson, Chief Executive Officer of Obagi Medical Products. "With the launch of our solubilized BPO technology as a prescription-only product in the pharmacy channel, we continue to offer more options to our physicians. The launch of SoluCLENZ Rx Gel will help dermatologists not only meet, but exceed their patients' expectations."

About Solubilized Benzoyl Peroxide

Obagi Medical's proprietary, solubilized BPO, known as SoluZyl Technology, is 1/10,000 the size of any other BPO molecule available, so it can penetrate deep into the root of the follicle and treat acne where it starts. Obagi Medical's solubilized 5% BPO is clinically proven to kill more P. acnes bacteria faster than the leading gel BPO/antibiotic combination product.

About SoluCLENZ

SoluCLENZ Rx is a 5% solubilized BPO gel that uses proprietary ingredients and is indicated for the treatment of acne.

Of the patients who experienced expected signs and symptoms of treatment (erythema, peeling, dryness, burning and/or stinging) during clinical studies, the majority of cases were mild to moderate, occurred during the early weeks of treatment and decreased or resolved over time. Although rare, allergic reactions have been reported with topical benzoyl peroxide therapy.

About Obagi Medical Products, Inc.

Obagi Medical Products develops and commercializes skin health products for the dermatology, plastic surgery, and related aesthetic markets. Using its Penetrating Therapeutics™ technologies, Obagi Medical's products are designed to improve penetration of agents across the skin barrier for common and visible skin conditions in adult skin including chloasma, melasma, senile lentigines, acne vulgaris and sun damage. The history of Obagi's skin care product introductions is as follows: Obagi Nu-Derm®, 1988; Obagi-C® Rx (the first and only prescription-strength vitamin C and hydroquinone system), 2004; Obagi® Professional-C (a line of highly stable vitamin C serums), 2005; Obagi® Condition and Enhance for use with cosmetic procedures to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction, 2006; Obagi ELASTIderm™ eye treatment and Obagi CLENZIderm® M.D. acne therapeutic systems, 2007; a formulation of Obagi CLENZIderm® M.D. Systems for normal to dry skin, June 2007; and Obagi ELASTIderm™ Décolletage System, January 2008 and SoluCLENZ Rx Gel for the pharmacy channel in August 2008.

http://www.obagi.com

Forward-Looking Statements

There are forward-looking statements contained herein, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "potential," "anticipates," "plans," or "intends" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from the future results, events or developments indicated in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to possibility that our entry into the pharmacy-dispensed channel will be unsuccessful and that few physicians will opt to prescribe pharmacy-dispensed SoluCLENZ Rx Gel, the intense competition our products face and will face in the future, the level of market acceptance of our products, the possibility that our products could be rendered obsolete by technological or medical advances, the possibility that we may become involved in intellectual property claims and litigation that could adversely affect the profitability of or our ability to sell our products, the possibility that our products may cause undesirable side effects and the fact that our ability to commercially distribute our products may be significantly harmed if the regulatory environment governing our products changes. A more detailed discussion of these and other factors that could affect results is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that the future results covered by the forward-looking statements will be achieved. All information in this press release is as of the date of this press release and Obagi Medical Products does not intend to update this information.

Obagi Medical Products, Inc.