- First and Only Gel for Overactive Bladder
- Quick, convenient treatment option allows patients to treat OAB without having to take a pill
OAKVILLE, ON, Sept. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Watson Canada today announced that Gelnique® (oxybutynin chloride gel), the first-ever topical gel for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), is now available in Canada. Gelnique provides patients with a novel alternative to current oral treatment options, with a very low incidence of side effects, such as dry mouth.
Gelnique is a quick-drying, clear, and fragrance-free gel that is applied once daily to the thigh, abdomen, upper arm or shoulder. A one-gram dose of Gelnique is rubbed into the skin like any skin cream, and delivers a constant dose of oxybutynin over a 24-hour period.
"Gelnique's novel gel formulation provides an important new option for patients with OAB," says Dr. Sender Herschorn, Professor and Chair University of Toronto Division of Urology. "Gelnique contains oxybutynin, the same ingredient as many available oral therapies, which has been well established as a safe and efficacious treatment for OAB. However, because Gelnique is absorbed through the skin and not taken by mouth, patients may experience limited anticholinergic side effects."
Current oral therapies for OAB are often associated with troubling side effects, such as severe dry mouth and constipation, often causing patients to discontinue use. Unlike oral treatments, Gelnique is delivered transdermally, and has been shown to cause few anticholinergic adverse effects. In clinical trials with Gelnique, no patients discontinued due to dry mouth.
MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE OR EMBARRASSMENT
Overactive bladder is a common, debilitating condition characterized by a sudden, uncomfortable need to urinate even when the bladder isn't full. It often results in an unexpected loss of urine, wetting accidents and the associated embarrassment.
In Canada, nearly one in five people over the age of 35 suffer from OAB. More than an inconvenience or embarrassment, OAB is associated with increased health risks and decreased quality of life. Patients with OAB can also have higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and even arthritis.
Although the prevalence of OAB is slightly higher in women, one in six men suffers from OAB (21.2 per cent vs. 14.8 per cent).
OAB IMPACTS RELATIONSHIPS & QUALITY OF LIFE
Both men and women with OAB are significantly more likely to report diminished sexual activity and enjoyment of sex because of urinary symptoms.
OAB has been shown to reduce sexual desire and the ability to achieve orgasm in women, and can be associated with increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual enjoyment in men. Patients' partners report that OAB fosters significant emotions, including embarrassment, anxiety, anger, worry, frustration, and sympathy.
"Overactive bladder not only impacts overall health, but also sexual intimacy, romantic relationships, and self-confidence," says Maureen McGrath, Nurse Continence Advisor. "All patients should speak to their physician about sexual health when seeking a treatment for OAB as it can severely impact quality of life."
ABOUT GELNIQUE
Gelnique is indicated for the treatment of OAB with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency.
In a Phase 3, 12-week trial, one-gram, once-daily Gelnique was superior to placebo at relieving OAB symptoms, including a reduction in incontinence episodes and urinary frequency, and an increase in urine void volume. The treatment was well tolerated in the study with a low incidence of mostly mild side effects and no serious adverse events. The most frequently reported treatment-related adverse events (>2 per cent and greater than placebo) were dry mouth and application-site reactions (5.4 per cent).
Additional pharmacology studies showed that showering one hour or later, or applying oil-free sunscreen lotion 30 minutes before or after Gelnique application, did not significantly alter the absorption of the drug.
Gelnique significantly improved the quality of life domains of travel, physical activity, social relationships and emotional health.
For full prescribing information, please visit WatsonPharmaCompany.ca.
ABOUT WATSON PHARMA COMPANY
Watson Pharma Company is the newly-formed Canadian subsidiary of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Established in 2011 and headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, it is engaged in the marketing, sale and distribution of branded pharmaceutical products to the Canadian market. Watson is focused on delivering innovative products that address key therapeutic categories in Urology and Women's Health. As a subsidiary of Watson Pharmaceuticals, it is supported by Watson's sophisticated R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and one of the industry's leading global supply chains. For press release and other company information, visit Watson Pharma Company's website at www.WatsonPharmaCompany.ca
SOURCE: Watson Pharma Company
Michelle MacLeod
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
416.413.4744 / [email protected]
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