• 1/24/2006
  • Cary, NC
  • press release
  • Yahoo! Finance (biz.yahoo.com)

Align Pharmaceuticals, based in Cary, NC, made its debut last week with the launch of three new products for the treatment of radiation dermatitis and xerostomia (dry mouth). These products will provide relief to people undergoing radiation therapy, as well as the four million people who suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes dry mouth symptoms.

“Our products serve an unmet need in these two communities. No other products available provide the significant relief to patients that these do,” said Align Pharmaceuticals’ Chief Executive Officer, William Collins.

Xclair(TM) Cream is a water-based cream with ingredients that hydrate skin, as well as provide protective barriers to maintain skin integrity during the course of radiation therapy. Use of the cream begins on “day one” of radio-therapy and is applied three times a day for the duration. Xclair Cream is steroid, alcohol and fragrance free.

Align has two products for xerostomia under the brand Numoisyn(TM). Numoisyn(TM) Lozenges are saliva stimulants for people with some salivary function. Numoisyn(TM) Liquid is a saliva replacement for people with little or no salivary function. Both products will benefit people with xerostomia as a result of radiation treatment for head and neck cancers, or Sjogren’s syndrome.

“We started this company to find therapies that would improve the quality of life in patients with no other therapeutic solutions,” said Greg Preston, vice president of sales and marketing. “Our CFO is an oral cancer survivor who has experienced both radiation dermatitis and xerostomia. At 12 months out from radiation therapy, he still suffers from dry mouth, but finds relief from both Numoisyn products.”