STEWARTVILLE, Minn., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Rochester Medical Corporation
(Nasdaq: ROCM) today announced the formation of a distribution and customer
service program for the FemSoft(R) Insert to be administered by McKesson
Pharmaceutical Partners Group (MPPG), a business unit of McKesson HBOC, Inc.
MPPG's Healthcare Delivery Systems (HDS) unit has provided design consultation
and development support for the program through their expertise in similar
managed distribution programs.
The FemSoft(R) Insert is a small, single use, latex-free device for the
treatment of female stress incontinence, a condition affecting approximately
6.6 million women in the United States. The device consists of a narrow
silicone tube completely encapsulated by a soft, comfortable, fluid-filled
sleeve. As a woman inserts the device, the sleeve conforms to the urethra,
creating an effective seal to prevent unintended urine leakage caused by
pressure on the bladder from everyday activities as common as laughing,
coughing, sneezing, exercising and other forms of normal every day activity.
The essence of the distribution program is a comprehensive FemSoft(R)
Program Resource Center (Resource Center) and a nationwide distribution
system, designed to provide seamless support to FemSoft(R) Insert users and
healthcare professionals in the US market. The program features a single
point of contact through which women can order product and receive personal
attention for their information needs and product use questions. The Resource
Center will also provide a central point of contact for clinicians to obtain
product samples, literature and access to customer service personnel specially
trained in the FemSoft(R) program.
Following diagnosis and evaluation by her clinician, a woman interested in
using the FemSoft(R) Insert will be provided a prescription for the product.
The woman will contact the Resource Center at 1-800-FEMSOFT to place an order
and initiate shipment of the product directly to her home or other location of
her choice. The Resource Center will also offer a help line to support user
questions, alleviate concerns and provide other assistance with product use.
Additionally, the Resource Center will be available to consumers and
clinicians for general inquiries about the product, its use, availability and
cost. This will include fulfilling requests for product literature and
answering commonly asked questions.
"We are very pleased to have established this multi-dimensional support
resource for our FemSoft(R) program," said Anthony J. Conway, President of
Rochester Medical. "This alliance establishes efficient, nationwide
distribution for the product, and through the Resource Center, our customers
and their clinicians will have a convenient way to receive first class service
and response for their FemSoft(R) Insert related needs. We expect the
Resource Center will also be instrumental in providing exposure and awareness
for the FemSoft(R) program as we proceed with our market introduction and
market development activities."
Rochester Medical is planning a phased introduction of the FemSoft(R)
Insert, with initial market availability in metropolitan areas of Denver,
Detroit and the Quad-Cities of Iowa. These cities were among the primary
clinical study locations for the FemSoft(R) Insert. The initial introduction
is scheduled to begin in January 2000.
Rochester Medical Corporation develops, manufactures and markets
latex-free disposable urinary continence care products for urinary dysfunction
management and urine drainage management. The Company markets its product
under its own Rochester Medical(R) brand and under private label arrangements.
More information about Rochester Medical is available on its website at
http://www.rocm.com .
McKesson Healthcare Delivery Systems' expertise in advanced health care
information technology and world class customer service has positioned the
company as the premier supplier of marketing support programs, reimbursement
services, and specialty distribution systems to leading pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and medical device manufacturers.
McKesson Pharmaceutical Partners Group (MPPG), a business unit of McKesson
HBOC, Inc., focuses on improving sales and marketing effectiveness for health
care manufacturers. MPPG's focused solutions set it apart by providing
manufacturers with programs that drive market share and capitalize on market
opportunities through the entire product life cycle.
McKesson HBOC, Inc., a Fortune 60 corporation, is the world's largest
supply management and healthcare information technology company. McKesson
HBOC provides supply management and information technologies across the entire
continuum of healthcare, including market-leading businesses in pharmaceutical
and medical-surgical distribution, automation, information technology and
outsourcing services for healthcare providers and payors. More information
about McKesson HBOC is available on its World Wide Web site at:
http://www.mckhboc.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, including scheduled product introduction timelines, the
volume and timing of product purchases by customers, manufacturing capacities,
regulatory approval matters, functionality of product distribution and
customer support systems, as well as other risk factors listed from time to
time in the Company's SEC reports and filings, including, without limitation,
the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K (Part II, Item 6) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998.
For further information, please contact Anthony J. Conway, President, or
Brian J. Wierzbinski, Chief Financial Officer of Rochester Medical Corporation
at 507-533-9600.
SOURCE Rochester Medical Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.rocm.com
CONTACT:
Anthony J. Conway, Chief Executive Officer,
507-533-9600, or Brian J. Wierzbinski, Chief Financial Officer,
507-533-9604, both of Rochester Medical; or General, Craig
Dickson, Analysts, Leslie Loyet, or Media, Darcy Bretz, of The
Financial Relations Board, 312-266-7800
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