California Bans Lindane; Approves an Alternative for the Treatment of Head Lice
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--Oct. 5, 2000--The use or sale of lindane in California will soon become illegal. To provide health care practitioners with an alternative for treating resistant head lice, Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) has approved coverage of OVIDE(R) (malathion) Lotion, 0.5%.
Governor Gray Davis (D) signed AB2318 on September 5, 2000, which prohibits the use or sale of lindane (gammahexachlorocyclohexane) 1% after January 1, 2002. The legislation was introduced as a result of concerns about the pesticide's toxicity and its contamination of the Los Angeles County water supply(1). In California, lindane is commonly prescribed for the treatment of lice and scabies. Each year, an estimated 40,000 prescriptions are issued.
"Lindane is less effective and has more potential toxicity than the easily available alternatives; therefore, there is no reason to continue prescribing lindane for the control of head lice in California(1)," according to the State Department of Health Services.
Soon after the lindane bill was signed, Medi-Cal approved OVIDE Lotion to its formulary. OVIDE Lotion is a prescription head lice treatment product that contains the pharmaceutical grade of malathion.
The Medi-Cal approval of OVIDE Lotion will allow approximately five million low-income and disabled Californians to have access to a topical prescription treatment for head lice. It also provides California physicians and nurse practitioners with a prescription alternative to lindane.
More than six million American children are infested with head lice each year. Recent studies show that head lice have become resistant to many over-the-counter treatments(2). Before OVIDE Lotion became available in the market, many practitioners had very few options for treating resistant head lice. Today malathion, which is the active ingredient in OVIDE Lotion, is the recommended prescription alternative according to a consensus panel of experts(3). Visit www.ovide4lice.net for more information about malathion for medical use.
OVIDE(R) (malathion) Lotion, 0.5%, is a product of MEDICIS, The Dermatology Company(R), a subsidiary of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (NYSE:MRX). Medicis is a specialty pharmaceutical company and is the leading independent pharmaceutical company in the United States focusing primarily on the treatment of dermatological conditions. Full prescribing information for OVIDE Lotion and other Medicis prescription products can be obtained by calling 1-800-550-5115.
Except for historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the Company's dependence on sales of key products, uncertainty of future financial results and fluctuations in operating results, dependence on the Company's acquisition strategy, new product introductions and other risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings. These forward-looking statements represent the judgment of the Company, as of the date of this release, and Medicis disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
References:
1. California Assembly Bill 2318 @ www.leginfo.ca.gov.
2. Pollack RJ, Kiszewski A, Armstrong P, et al. Differentialpermethrin susceptibility of head lice sampled in the UnitedStates and Borneo. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1999;153:969-973.
3. Hansen RC, Brogdon WG, Dillenberg J, et al. Guidelines for thetreatment of resistant pediculosis. Contemp Ped 2000;(suppl):1-10; sponsored by an educational grant from MEDICIS,The Dermatology Company(R).
Contacts: HealthInfo, Inc. Marita Gomez, 847/995-0085 maritaghealthinfo@flashcom.net or Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation Investor Contact: Libby Ivy, 602/808-3854 www.medicis.com