Mission Pharmacal Launches Aquoral Oral Spray for Dry Mouth

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Relief from dry mouth is now just a spray away. Mission Pharmacal Company today announced the launch of Aquoral®, a safe and effective protective oral spray that moistens and lubricates the mouth for up to four hours.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131022/PH02349)

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, affects about 25 million Americans. It refers to a decreased production of saliva, a condition common in older adults as well as those taking certain prescription medications. Studies show that dry mouth affects up to 60 percent of patients taking an anticholinergic medication to treat a urologic condition such as overactive bladder (OAB). Other causes include radiotherapy and systemic diseases such as Sjögren's Syndrome.

Symptoms of dry mouth include an uncomfortable dry (like cotton), sticky or burning sensation in the mouth. Dry mouth can also cause cracked lips, dry tongue, mouth sores and ulcers, mouth infections, and dental decay.

"Dry mouth is more than an annoying problem," says Dan Crawford, Marketing Director of the Urology Division at Mission Pharmacal. "It can significantly decrease patients' quality of life by making it difficult to chew, swallow, taste, and even speak. Most home remedies, such as chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on ice chips, provide only temporary relief from these symptoms.
Over-the-counter remedies, which are water-based, don't last much longer."

What differentiates Aquoral most from other dry mouth solutions? Aquoral utilizes patented Oxidized Glycerol Triesters (OGT) Technology, a unique plant-derived, lipid-based technology designed to function like human saliva, forming a protective barrier on the oral mucosa that lasts
up to four hours.

"Even though patients need a prescription for Aquoral, it is a non-drug, FDA-cleared medical device that was shown to be more effective and longer lasting than an artificial saliva substitute. This is a breakthrough product for patients who are experiencing dry mouth due to medications or other causes," Crawford adds.

Medication-induced dry mouth can interfere with treatment goals of OAB and other urologic problems. In a study of patients with medication-induced dry mouth, 75 percent of participants reported an improvement in chewing, 65 percent in swallowing, and 60 percent in speech.

What's more, in clinical studies conducted with older patients, Aquoral improved chewing, swallowing, taste, and speech, with no adverse events and no known interactions with
other medications.

Patient Savings Card Offered

Aquoral, which is available by prescription only, will be launched with a special Patient Savings Card to make it more affordable to patients by offering up to $75 savings on their first prescription and $40 on future refills. This means that most patients will pay no more than $25 for a six- to
eight-week supply of Aquoral.

Prescription drugs may carry risks and are not suitable for every patient. More information about Aquoral, as well as the causes and treatment of dry mouth, can be found at aquoral.com.

For full prescribing information on all of Mission's urology drugs, please visit missionpharmacal.com/products/urology.

Aquoral® artificial saliva is a medical device registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration.

About Mission Pharmacal Company
Mission Pharmacal Company is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in San Antonio, Texas. For more than 65 years, the company has been committed to meeting the unique healthcare needs of women throughout all stages of life, pediatric patients, and those persons dealing with urologic and dermatologic conditions. The company has a proven track record of identifying unmet healthcare needs and developing both innovative prescription and over-the-counter products to meet these needs. Using only the purest ingredients and FDA-approved methods of manufacturing, Mission Pharmacal provides physicians and consumers with the highest quality pharmaceutical and dietary supplement products on the market today. Mission Pharmacal is a proud national supporter of the March of Dimes Foundation®, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. For more information about the company, visit missionpharmacal.com.

SOURCE Mission Pharmacal Company