| LA JOLLA, CA (March 24, 2008)- Today, Instead | | | | to launch the product later this year. It |
| Sciences, Inc. announced that its | | | | is, to date, the only microbicidal candidate |
| microbicidal personal lubricant, Amphora, | | | | that has been cleared for this application. |
| which has been cleared as safe for human use | | | | The promising results from clinical studies |
| by the FDA, has shown promising results in | | | | that indicate Amphora may help prevent the |
| clinical studies to also prevent the | | | | spread of STD's and HIV indicate an even |
| contraction of certain sexually transmitted | | | | greater health benefit from its use. |
| diseases, including HSV (Herpes), gonorrhea, | | | | |
| Chlamydia, and HIV. In light of the | | | | According to a study conducted by Mt. Sinai |
| revealing report published earlier this month | | | | researchers, Amphora has the ability to |
| by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) | | | | reduce the infection rate of the Herpes |
| stating that one in four teenagers has a | | | | Simplex Virus (HSV) by 99% after 30 minutes |
| sexually transmitted infection, the | | | | of exposure to the microbicide. Amphora |
| announcement of a microbicide which may | | | | works as a bio-adhesive "acid buffering" gel |
| prevent the spread of these diseases is very | | | | that coats the vaginal wall and cervix, |
| encouraging. | | | | helping maintain a woman's natural pH level |
| | | | between 3.8 and 4.2, a level that has been |
| "Preventing the spread of STD's and HIV is | | | | proven in early clinical testing to render |
| unfortunately one of the largest ongoing | | | | sperm immobile and to inactivate most |
| battles of our time, as is evidenced by last | | | | STI-causing organisms, including herpes, |
| week's alarming CDC report. With the youth | | | | Chlamydia, HSV, gonorrhea, and HIV. |
| of our country at a greater risk for | | | | |
| contracting sexually transmitted diseases, it | | | | In light of the knowledge that many STD's, |
| is becoming increasingly important for us to | | | | including HIV itself, are extremely fragile |
| develop preventive, over-the-counter | | | | (effectively killed by lemon juice, saliva, |
| products. Fortunately, research is proving | | | | or even exposure to air ), the observations |
| this to be a real possibility in the form of | | | | made in the Mt. Sinai study bolster the |
| topical microbicides," explains Joseph Pike, | | | | hypothesis that Amphora will have a similar |
| President/CEO of Instead Sciences Inc. | | | | effect in significantly reducing the |
| | | | infection rate of HIV and other STD's, as was |
| Amphora has already been FDA cleared for use | | | | the case with the HSV testing. |
| in humans as a lubricant, and Instead plans | | | | |