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The Med Tech Sentinel covers the latest in medical technology innovation and investment opportunity, with emphasis on emerging companies.
This week's feature covers a news release reporting a new product, MuGard, that is exceeding clinical trials expectations in preventing oral mucositis. www.onemedplace.com
Oral mucositis is a nearly inevitable complication for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for head or neck cancer. Roughly 100 percent of these patients develop oral mucositis, which is characterized by painful sores in the mouth, infection, and the inability to chew or swallow. Some patients’ symptoms are severe enough for them to discontinue cancer therapy. The standard treatment, “magic mouthwash”—a combination of therapeutics such as lidocaine, saline, and antibiotics–
About MuGard:
MuGard is a novel, ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of many anticancer treatments. Up to 40% of all patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy develop moderate to severe mucositis, and almost all patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and those undergoing stem cell transplantation develop mucositis. Updated clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of mucositis recommend the use of a preventive oral care regimen as part of routine supportive care along with a therapeutic oral care regimen if mucositis develops. The market for the treatment of oral mucositis, used prophylactically for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, is estimated to be in excess of $5 billion world-wide.
MuGard forms a protective coating over the oral mucosa when swirled gently around the mouth. In a comparison of cancer patients receiving standard mucositis care with those patients receiving MuGard, the incidence and severity of mucositis was significantly lower in the MuGard treated group using a validated scale for the assessment of oral mucositis.
About Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc:
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access' products include ProLindac™, currently in Phase 2 clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer, and MuGard™ for the management of patients with mucositis. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, http://www.onemedplace.com/
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