Onset Therapeutics Announces Launch Of Anestafoam(TM), A Novel Topical Anesthetic Foam

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Pain / Anesthetics
Article Date: 08 Mar 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Onset Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of innovative treatments for skin and skin related disorders, announced the launch of Anestafoam™, a novel topical foam formulation containing lidocaine 4%. Anestafoam™ is the first and only foam formulation of lidocaine on the market. It incorporates the Company's proprietary Delevo™ Foam Technology and is indicated for the temporary relief of pain associated with minor cuts and scrapes, abrasions, skin irritation, sunburn, burns and insect bites. The Company intends to sell the product primarily to dermatologists and podiatrists through its national field sales force. Anestafoam™ will also be available at retail drug stores and through internet distribution channels.

It is widely accepted by practicing dermatologists that the characteristics and type of product delivery vehicle are extremely important when determining the efficacy, side effect profile and patient compliance of topical products. Conventional topical vehicles such as creams, lotions and ointments can have attributes that reduce patient compliance and compromise efficacy. The Delevo™ Foam Technology incorporates active ingredients in a foam vehicle that utilizes a semi-solid emollient micro-emulsion system to deliver the active ingredient rapidly and efficiently. Failure to efficiently release the active(s) from topical formulations can delay the onset of activity and thus reduce the effectiveness of the product. In addition, the Delevo™ foam is moisturizing, alcohol-free, easy to spread over large areas of the body, and leaves no messy residue after absorption into the skin. All of these attributes can lead to higher patient acceptability ratings and patient compliance.

Data presented by the Company at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in San Antonio, TX on February 1-5, 2008 demonstrated that the release profile of lidocaine from Anestafoam™ was consistent with that required for the rapid onset of topical anesthesia. An in vitro study comparing rates of active release of lidocaine from Anestafoam™ and a commercially available lidocaine cream demonstrated that after application, Anestafoam™ released lidocaine at a faster and greater rate than did a commercially available cream formulation¹.

Michael Heffernan, President of Onset Therapeutics commented, "Our innovative Delevo™ Foam Technology enables us to optimize the formulation of Anestafoam™ and introduce the first and only foam formulation of lidocaine on the market. We expect this product to provide clinicians and patients with significant advantages over currently available topical anesthetics on the market. We have a number of additional products in our pipeline that utilize our Delevo™ Foam Technology that we intend to launch over the next couple of years".

About Onset Therapeutics

Onset Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Collegium Pharmaceutical (http://www.collegiumpharma.com), is a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of novel, patent protected topical products for the treatment of skin and skin related disorders. The Company's currently marketed products include: Kerafoam®, Clarifoam™ EF, Optase® and Paptase®. In addition, Onset has an extensive pipeline of products in development utilizing its proprietary DELEVO™ foam technology. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.onsettx.com.

Reference

1. Trumbore MW. A Comparison of the Rate and Extent of Lidocaine Release from a Novel Topical Anesthetic Foam vs. a Currently Marketed Lidocaine 4% Cream. AAD Meeting February 2008.

Onset Therapeutics