SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Evofem
Biosciences, Inc., (NASDAQ: EVFM) and NCODA (National Community
Oncology Dispensing Association, Inc.), a premier educational
platform for community and academic oncology practices nationwide,
are launching a collaboration to positively impact the quality of
life for female patients living with, fighting and recovering from
cancer by raising awareness about the importance and availability
of a new non-hormonal birth control method, Phexxi® (lactic
acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate).
Evofem and NCODA will work together to develop and share
resources and educational information for the medically-integrated
oncology pharmacy team to help support their female cancer
patients in deciding which contraceptive option best meets each
woman's unique, individual needs. The collaboration kicks off
today – World Cancer Day.
Every year in the United States, more than 800,000
new cases of cancer are reported among women.1 Many
cancer treatment protocols require female patients of reproductive
age to use birth control while undergoing treatment. Until the
introduction of Phexxi in September
2020, non-hormonal prescription contraception options were
starkly limited; previously, women were generally steered toward
condoms or the copper IUD, a prescription medical device that is
implanted in the uterus where it releases copper ions and causes
inflammation.
"Women who are being or who have previously been treated for
hormone-sensitive cancers should not use hormonal birth control
because it may stimulate the growth of tumor cells," said
Gury Doshi, M.D., Texas Oncology.
"Non-hormonal birth control is the best option for these women, and
it is important that each woman and her medical team evaluate and
determine which of the two available hormone-free prescription
contraceptives, a surgically implanted device or an on-demand
vaginal pH modulator gel, is best for her."
"As a survivor of Stage III breast-cancer, this collaboration
with NCODA is extremely important to me and to the entire Evofem
team," said Saundra Pelletier, CEO
of Evofem Biosciences. "I understand firsthand the extraordinary
suffering - physical, mental, psychological and sexual - that women
face during and after cancer treatment. We look forward to working
with NCODA to support female cancer patients by ensuring they and
their oncology teams, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and
other healthcare providers, are aware that there is now, finally,
an FDA-approved, non-invasive, hormone-free contraceptive
available: Phexxi."
"Our passion is for patients. Supporting the coordination
and continuity of care while positively impacting the clinical
outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients is paramount to
our mission. Evofem has developed an innovation that will
benefit female cancer patients during and long after their
treatment ends. We look forward to building awareness of
what we are confident will be a welcome addition to their treatment
care plan," says Michael J. Reff,
NCODA Founder & Executive Director.
NCODA will develop a Positive Quality Intervention (PQI) in
connection with Phexxi. PQIs are part of the NCODA Quality
Standards. These resources are designed to operationalize and
standardize practices to achieve positive outcomes for patients.
The resource will educate oncologists and other members of the
medically-integrated oncology pharmacy team who are involved in the
care of oncology patients who may be prescribed Phexxi.
Phexxi is the first and only FDA-approved, non-hormonal
contraceptive vaginal gel. It is designed to be used immediately
before or up to an hour before intercourse. It was approved
in May 2020 and is now available in the U.S. by
prescription.
Phexxi works to maintain vaginal pH, which reduces sperm
mobility, lowering the chance of sperm reaching the egg, and is the
first non-hormonal contraceptive method created for women in
decades.
About NCODA
The National Community Oncology
Dispensing Association (NCODA) seeks to empower the
medically-integrated oncology team to deliver positive,
patient-centered outcomes by providing leadership, expertise,
quality standards and best practices. NCODA is addressing the
growing need for MIP cancer clinics to improve operations at the
pharmacy level in order to deliver quality and sustainable value to
all stakeholders involved in the care of cancer patients receiving
oral therapy. NCODA brings value to practices through adoption of
quality standards, sharing of best practices and
improving financial viability. For more information about
NCODA, visit www.ncoda.org.
About Evofem Biosciences
Evofem Biosciences, Inc.,
(NASDAQ: EVFM) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company
committed to developing and commercializing innovative products to
address unmet needs in women's sexual and reproductive health,
including hormone-free, woman-controlled contraception and
protection from certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The
Company's first commercial product, Phexxi® (lactic acid, citric
acid and potassium bitartrate), is the first and only hormone-free,
prescription vaginal gel approved in the United
States for the prevention of pregnancy. The Company's lead
product candidate, EVO100, is being evaluated for the prevention of
urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria
gonorrhoeae infection in women in
the ongoing Phase 3 clinical
trial, 'EVOGUARD.' For more information, please visit
www.evofem.com.
Phexxi® is a registered trademark of Evofem Biosciences,
Inc.
About PHEXXI®
Phexxi® is an on-demand method of birth control used
to prevent pregnancy. Phexxi® is not effective when used
after sex.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- If you have had a history of repeated urinary tract infections
or other urinary tract problems, avoid Phexxi®.
- The most common side effects were vaginal burning, vaginal
itching, vaginal yeast infection, urinary tract infection, vaginal
area discomfort, bacterial vaginosis, vaginal discharge, genital
discomfort (including male partners), and pain while
urinating.
- Phexxi® does not protect against any sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you are experiencing severe
genital irritation or discomfort or urinary tract symptoms.
For more information about Phexxi®, talk to your healthcare
provider and see full Product Information.
Please report side effects by contacting Evofem Biosciences®
toll-free at 1-833-EVFMBIO or contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements," within
the meaning of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements
provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements,
and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date
of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements
involves risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or
implied in the forward-looking statements, or that could impair the
value of Evofem Biosciences' assets and business, are disclosed in
Evofem's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2019
filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020,
its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 2, 2020, and its Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2020 filed with the SEC on November
9, 2020. All forward-looking statements are expressly
qualified in their entirety by such factors. Evofem does not
undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement except
as required by law.
References
- U.S. Cancer Statistics: Highlights from 2017 Incidence. U.S.
Cancer Statistics Data Briefs, No. 17, June
2020.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no17-USCS-highlights-2017-incidence.htm
Investor Relations Contact
Amy
Raskopf
Evofem Biosciences, Inc.
araskopf@evofem.com
Mobile: (917) 673-5775
Media Contact
Bonnie
Efird
Capwell Communications, Inc.
bonnie@capwellcomm.com
Mobile: (704) 806-5119
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SOURCE Evofem Biosciences, Inc.