SAN DIEGO, March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMMY), an ophthalmology-focused pharmaceutical company, today announced the publication of a Dropless Therapy® article in the peer-reviewed journal, Current Pharmaceutical Design. Dropless Cataract Surgery® is a single-use, injectable combination of antibiotic and steroid formulation administered at the end of cataract surgery to essentially eliminate the need for post-surgery eye drops. The authors provide a retrospective review of data and efficacy of the Dropless® approach, examine the transzonular via cannula injection technique, and discuss the benefits of Dropless Therapy® to patients, physicians and their staff.
Several findings of the study included:
- Compliance issues are diminished with Dropless Therapy compared to standard post-surgery topical drop regimens. Lack of patient adherence to topical regimens are due to “drop phobia” and improper instillation of the drops especially in elderly patients with tremors, poor near vision and lack of dexterity. The article refers to a recent study showing more than 90% of patients incorrectly administered eye drops following cataract surgery. High costs may also deter some patients from filling all of their prescribed medications.
- Cost savings to patients can range from $200 to $600 per cataract procedure. As healthcare shifts towards capitated care, the authors believe it is essential to use safe, efficacious and cost-effective therapy, such as Dropless.
- Staff time is significantly reduced without patient, insurance and pharmacy callbacks about eye drop substitutions and confusion over topical regimens. Jeffrey T. Liegner, MD, one of the authors of the paper, calculates that callbacks require an estimated 3,000 staff hours annually, or 1.5 full-time equivalents. Although staff time is significantly reduced, Dropless requires educating patients about the procedure, why drops are not being prescribed and explaining the perception of floaters following surgery until excellent vision is experienced.
- A retrospective review of Dropless Therapy cases found no postoperative endophthalmitis. Post- surgery infection and inflammation rates were similar to reported rates with other alternative prophylactic therapies, such as topical drops.
- There have been no reported major intraoperative complications associated with the transzonular injection technique.
The authors concluded, “We believe that injection of needed medications at the time of surgery is an important change in the doctor-patient relationship. Rather than depending on the patient to take the necessary steps to obtain a good result, the surgeon can administer the drugs directly, gaining greater certainty that the proper dose will be achieved and gaining greater confidence in the outcome. It has been our experience that patients very much appreciate the opportunity to reduce or eliminate eye drops after surgery.”
John Saharek, Imprimis’ Chief Commercial Officer, stated, “We are pleased with the results of this peer-reviewed paper demonstrating the significant benefits of Dropless Therapy. The authors are pioneers in the field of cataract surgery and we appreciate their time and dedication to retrospectively evaluating the extensive body of clinical data that was needed to substantiate this well-documented overview of Dropless Cataract Surgery. We continue to capture market share as more and more physicians understand the benefits of Dropless as a prophylactic alternative to improve the patient experience, eliminate their own concerns about compliance and help lower costs for patients. We expect adoption rates will continue to rise with the opportunity to now acquire Dropless Therapy from our new state of the art FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facility.”
“Dropless Cataract Surgery: An Overview” was authored by Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, M. Stewart Galloway, MD, Andrzej Grzybowski, MD, PhD, MBA, and Jeffrey T. Liegner, MD and is available online to subscribers. To request a copy, please contact CC Song at csong@imprimispharma.com. For more information about Dropless Therapy, visit www.GoDropless.com.
Richard L. Lindstrom, MD is an Imprimis Board member, consultant and investor; M. Stewart Galloway, MD is an Imprimis consultant; and Jeffrey T. Liegner, MD is an Imprimis consultant. Andrzej Grzybowski, MD, PhD, MBA has no affiliation to the company.
About Imprimis Pharmaceuticals
Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMMY) is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to producing and dispensing high quality innovative medications in all 50 states. The company’s unique business model increases patient access and affordability to many critical medicines. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Imprimis owns and operates three production and dispensing facilities located in California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For more information about Imprimis, please visit the corporate website at www.ImprimisRx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts may be considered such “forward looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially and adversely from the statements contained herein. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those predicted include our ability to make commercially available our compounded formulations and technologies in a timely manner or at all; physician interest in prescribing our formulations; risks related to our compounding pharmacy operations; our ability to enter into other strategic alliances, including arrangements with pharmacies, physicians and healthcare organizations for the development and distribution of our formulations; our ability to obtain intellectual property protection for our assets; our ability to accurately estimate our expenses and cash burn, and raise additional funds when necessary; risks related to research and development activities; the projected size of the potential market for our technologies and formulations; unexpected new data, safety and technical issues; regulatory and market developments impacting compounding pharmacies, outsourcing facilities and the pharmaceutical industry; competition; and market conditions. These and additional risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Imprimis’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Such documents may be read free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, Imprimis undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Other than drugs compounded at a registered outsourcing facility, all Imprimis compounded formulations may only be prescribed pursuant to a physician prescription for an individually identified patient consistent with federal and state laws.
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