Thorne Research, Inc., And Helsinn Healthcare SA Announce OncoQOL™ - A Joint Effort To Provide Nutritional Supplements And Personal Care Products To Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment

SANDPOINT, Idaho, and LUGANO, Switzerland, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thorne Research, Inc., a leader in developing and manufacturing pure, high quality nutritional supplements and personal care products marketed through medical professionals, and Helsinn, a rapidly growing pharmaceutical group based in Lugano, Switzerland, today announced the launch of the OncoQOL™ product line – a portfolio of 13 nutritional supplements intended to support the unique nutritional needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment.  The OncoQOL portfolio also includes the DermaQOL™ product line, with nine personal care products specially formulated to support the skin-care and hair-care needs of patients undergoing cancer treatment.  DermaQOL products are manufactured using only high-quality, certified organic ingredients.  OncoQOL products, including the DermaQOL product line, are available only through oncologists and other medical professionals in the United States and Canada.

Treatment for cancer often results in nutritionally related undesirable effects, such as weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, and highly sensitive nerves and skin.  The OncoQOL product line is designed to help patients address these and other similar conditions which can deteriorate their quality of life and adversely affect compliance in fully completing their course of treatment.

"For many cancer patients the side effects of treatment have a significant impact on their health and quality of life, often making it difficult for them to continue with their therapy.  Our products are designed to meet the unique needs of these patients and are manufactured with the essential levels of purity and consistency that are so important for this population," said Sreenivas Rao, MD, president, OncoQOL.

OncoQOL nutritional supplement products are manufactured using pure, hypoallergenic, highly-absorbable nutrients.  All products undergo extensive quality control testing during every phase of the manufacturing process.  Although some of their active ingredients have been clinically shown to provide important benefits to cancer patients, OncoQOL products are not intended to treat specific diseases and should not be considered as adjuncts to disease treatment.

Three of the nutritional supplements in the OncoQOL portfolio are:  DaxibeQOL™, a blend of branched-chain and other essential amino acids known to possibly promote anabolism, weight gain, lean muscle mass, and muscle strength; NutraQOL™, a wheat germ extract that may reduce fatigue and helps improve social, physical, and emotional wellbeing; and MucosaQOL™, which contains L-glutamine, an amino acid helpful to support healthy mucous membranes of the mouth and GI tract.

"In our practice we see firsthand the challenges that patients face in managing the side effects of chemotherapy and trying to optimize their overall health and diet during treatment.  A high fraction of patients take nutritional supplements during therapy, but many commercially available supplements are not designed for people with cancer.  Selecting products and managing combinations of supplements is very confusing to patients, and many interact negatively and unpredictably with their cancer treatment.  OncoQOL has prepared pure, high quality products designed with our patients' specific needs in mind which reduces the confusion and apprehension of using supportive care products as part of the treatment program," said Lawrence Piro, MD, president and chief operating officer of The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in Santa Monica, California.

DermaQOL personal care products are manufactured without the use of plasticizers, foaming agents, and preservatives found in many personal care product brands.  Three of the products in the DermaQOL portfolio are:  DermaQOL Lotion, a silicone-free and sulfate-free blend of unscented organic emollients to hydrate dry, rough skin; DermaQOL Shower Gel, an all-body wash and shampoo specially formulated for sensitive skin; and DermaQOL Cooling Aloe Spray, a moisturizer that provides cooling relief for irritated skin.

"Living with cancer creates many challenges, and treatment can now extend over years.  In order to avoid negative interactions, cancer patients should choose products formulated with their needs in mind," said Mary Hardy, MD, medical director, Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology.

Patients can access the full range of OncoQOL nutritional supplements and DermaQOL personal care products directly from their physician.  Thus far, more than 100 cancer specialists and other health-care providers have signed up to provide these products to their patients.

"OncoQOL represents a huge step forward in helping patients undergoing cancer treatment and their families obtain reliable access to products and information that empowers them to become more proactive in their health challenge.  By providing targeted dietary supplements that the consumer and the physician can rely on, OncoQOL is filling a huge void in the cancer supportive care marketplace," said James B. LaValle, RPh, chief executive officer of Integrative Health Resources, LLC, and chair of OncoQOL's Science Advisory Board.

About OncoQOL

OncoQOL is a joint business effort between two of the world's leading health-care companies: Helsinn and Thorne Research, Inc.  OncoQOL's mission is to provide pure, safe, evidence-based nutritional supplements and personal care products together with information and education for medical professionals, patients, and caregivers.  OncoQOL utilizes the highest quality, most innovative ingredients provided exclusively through Thorne Research, Helsinn Healthcare SA, and Indena S.p.A., as well as information and medical education through a strategic alliance with the online portal, Health Elements.  Further information on OncoQOL is available at www.oncoqol.com.

About Thorne Research

Since 1984, Thorne Research has set the standard for exceptional quality manufacturing and formulation of premium hypoallergenic dietary supplements available through licensed healthcare practitioners.  With more than 400 products, Thorne Research is recognized by healthcare practitioners as a global leader in providing dietary supplements of the highest quality and purity.  Through recent acquisitions and joint ventures, Thorne Research now also offers product lines that address the nutritional deficiencies and requirements of those with cancer, neurological disorders, or cardiovascular disease, in addition to a product line for high performance athletes, a comprehensive product line of organic, non-GMO skin-care products, and related supportive practice management programs.  With locations in Sandpoint, ID, Long Island, NY, and Greenwich, CT, Thorne Research operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and employs more than 225 people.  Further information on Thorne Research is available at www.thorne.com.

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and operating subsidiaries in Ireland and the United States.  Helsinn's business model is focused on the licensing of pharmaceuticals.  Helsinn Group in-licenses early-to-late stage new chemical entities, completes their development through the performance of pre-clinical /clinical studies and Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) development, and files and attains their market approvals worldwide.  Helsinn's products are out-licensed to its network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected for their deep in-market knowledge and know-how whom Helsinn assists and supports by providing a full range of product and scientific management services, including commercial, regulatory financial, legal, and medical marketing advice.  The active pharmaceutical ingredients and the finished products are manufactured according to the highest quality, safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland and supplied worldwide to its customers.  Further information on Helsinn Group is available at www.helsinn.com.

About Indena

Indena S.p.A. is the leading company dedicated to the identification, development, and production of active principals derived from plants for use in the pharmaceutical, health food, and cosmetics industries.  Backed by 90 years of botanical experience, the key to Indena's success is its intense research activity.  The company has more than 150 primary patents and has published more than 700 scientific studies.  Indena employs more than 700 staff, 10 percent of which are dedicated to full-time research activities carried out at Settala Research Center, near Milan, Italy.  Indena also cooperates with the world's most prestigious universities and private research institutions.  Headquartered in Milan, Indena has five production sites and four international branches throughout the world and manages distribution operations in more than 40 countries.  Indena's experts communicate and interact constantly with major international regulatory authorities such as WHO, EMEA, and ESCOP, and cooperate on the update of all the main pharmacopoeias. Further information on Indena S.p.A. is available at www.indena.com.

SOURCE Thorne Research, Inc.