Introducing Hep-Lido-A Bladder Instillation For Interstitial Cystitis

The most popular and some would argue effective bladder instillation treatment on the market today for interstitial cystitis is heparin and lidocaine. Heparin acts as a soothing bladder coating while lidocaine numbs the nerves in the bladder wall. As a result, many patients walk out of their urologists office feeling dramatically better. Granted, it may only last a few hours but research studies have shown that the consistent use of heparin lidocaine instillations can improve interstitial cystitis symptoms over the long term.(1,2,3,4)

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, a US based pharmaceutical company focused on the development of proprietary compounded drug formulations, announced today that they have acquired the exclusive distribution rights of “Hep-Lido-A,” previously known as Vesicyst or the Parsons IC Solution. Read their press release here!

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals brings a fresh new perspective to the IC community and a genuine desire to educate medical care providers and patients as is evidenced by their innovative new Defeat IC campaign.

It’s important for the patient community to understand the vital role that pharmaceutical companies play in IC educational and outreach efforts. Fifteen years ago, Alza Pharmaceuticals launched an Elmiron and an IC educational campaign that reached thousands of medical professionals. Their marketing, sponsorship of conferences, CME classes and courses and, of course, patient activities played the dominant role in IC patients being recognized and diagnosed. Unfortunately, those marketing efforts were suspended years ago. Imprimis Pharmaceuticals is the first company in a decade to tackle this challenging medical condition and for that we are tremendously grateful for their interest and outreach.

Mark L. Baum, CEO of Imprimis Pharmaceuticals stated “In 2014, physicians wrote more than 80,000 prescriptions of Hep-Lido-A, generating an estimated $5.5 million in sales… Our focus going forward is to continue to serve the existing Hep-Lido-A prescribers and patients, and importantly to share their experiences with new prescribers and their patients in order to significantly grow this business. We have a positive and uplifting message we intend to share with new patients who are suffering with IC.”

Patients who have been or are currently receiving the Parson’s IC Solution or Vesicyst from other compounding pharmacies will be transitioned to an Imprimis Pharmacy over the next 90 days. For additional information, please visit the Defeat IC website or send an email to: defeatic@imprimispharma.com.

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By Jill Osborne|2017-01-31T10:32:25-08:00April 28th, 2015|Industry News, News, Our Blog|Comments Off

About the Author: Jill Osborne

My Google Profile+ Jill Heidi Osborne is the president and founder of the Interstitial Cystitis Network, a health education company dedicated to interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome and other pelvic pain disorders. As the editor and lead author of the ICN and the IC Optimist magazine, Jill is proud of the academic recognition that her website has achieved. The University of London rated the ICN as the top IC website for accuracy, credibility, readability and quality. (Int Urogynecol J - April 2013). Harvard Medical School rated both Medscape and the ICN as the top two websites dedicated to IC. (Urology - Sept 11). For many years, Jill served on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel (US Army) where she collaborated with researchers to evaluate new IC research studies for possible funding. Jill has conducted and/or collaborates on a variety of IC research studies on new therapeutics, pain care, sexuality, the use of medical marijuana, menopause and the cost of treatments, shining a light on issues that influence patient quality of life. An IC support group leader and national spokesperson for the past 20 years, she has represented the IC community on radio, TV shows, at medical conferences. She has written hundreds of articles on IC and its related conditions. Jill has a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacology and a Masters in Psychology, Jill was named Presidential Management Intern (aka Fellowship) while in graduate school. (She was unable to earn her PhD due to the onset of her IC.) She spends the majority of her time providing WELLNESS COACHING for patients in need and developing new, internet based educational and support tools for IC patients, including new live IC Support Group Meetings via Youtube and the “Living with IC” video series. Jill was diagnosed with IC at the age of 32 but first showed symptoms at the age of 12.