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From Canker Sores to Cancer Ralph Green, DDS, MBA Vice President & General Manager

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Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Zila, Inc. has been providing professionals and consumers worldwide with breakthrough dental products for almost 20 years. Through in-house development and strategic acquisition, the Zila portfolio has steadily grown to include a broad range of products from the treatment of canker sores to, more recently, the early detection of abnormal tissue linked to oral cancer.


Zila’s Corporate Offices in Phoenix, AZ
LEADING EDGE OF ORAL CANCER DETECTION
Zila is probably best known for its Tolonium Chloride. Tolonium Chloride, a patented, pharmaceutical-grade form of the stain toluidine blue is already available in a dozen countries under the name OraTest,™ and is in Phase III studies under an FDA IND.

OraTest,™ upon application, stains lesions otherwise undetectable with current methods. We believe that this represents a revolutionary advance in the detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous oral lesions.

Zila is now launching ViziLite,™ a disposable light for illumination of abnormal oral tissue. ViziLite enhances the examiner’s ability to detect abnormal tissues in patients at risk for oral cancer. Early detection of mucosal abnormalities can result in the early treatment of pre-cancerous tissue.

According to the American Dental Association, if oral cancer is found at the earliest stage, treatment is quick, simple, and more than 90% successful. Yet more than 8,000 Americans die of orally-related cancer every year, because they do not have regular oral cancer examinations, or delay seeking treatment. This is why Dr. Ralph Green, Vice President and General Manager of the Professional Division at Zila Pharmaceuticals strongly believes, “early identification is critical to successful treatment and long-term survival.” Dr. Green also states “this is also why Zila has dedicated so many resources behind the development of improved screening techniques. When it comes right down to it, oral cancer is a dentist’s responsibility. If we don’t find it, then who will?”

Current practice includes only a visual detection of lesions through an examination of the oral cavity during routine dental exams. A sample of any questionable tissue is then collected for examination. This method of detection has many limitations:

  • Abnormal tissue is often not detectable by the naked eye and therefore goes untreated;
  • Detection and testing usually requires two or more office visits;
  • The patient often must see a surgical specialist for tissue biopsy; and
  • Biopsies can cause bleeding complications and significant patient discomfort. According to the recent FDA clearance, the ViziLite™ Test Kit, when used in combination with conventional visual oral mucosal examination by health care providers, improves identification, evaluation, and monitoring of oral mucosal abnormalities in a patient population at risk for oral cancer.

    ViziLite highlights oral lesions through photodifferentiation using a chemiluminescent light. This technology behind ViziLite™ provides four distinct advantages:

  • ViziLite™ works hand in hand with the conventional visual examination of the mouth
  • ViziLite’s Chemiluminescent light makes detection of oral abnormalities easier to see
  • ViziLite™ detects oral lesions not detectable by other methods; and
  • The ViziLite™ single-use test kit is easy, safe, and non-invasive. The ViziLite™ test is particularly important for patients who are at high-risk for developing oral cancer. Ninety percent of individuals diagnosed with oral cancer smoke and 75% drink alcohol with some frequency. Anyone who falls into either of these high-risk categories should be checked regularly with a reliable test like ViziLite.™ According to the American Dental Association, although patients with the above risk factors are most susceptible to oral cancer, 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors. Therefore, we believe that every patient should be tested for oral cancer at least once a year.

    “Breakthrough products like OraTest™ and ViziLite™ are important in the fight against oral cancer, the only cancer that has not decreased in occurrence over the last 50 years,” says Dr. Ralph Green. “In 2001 alone, we have seen about 30,100 new cases of oral cancer.

    Unfortunately, under current detection methods, many lesions are overlooked until they have grown large enough to be visible to the naked eye. Treatment in these later stages is often less successful and much more invasive and painful for the patient.”

    Oral cancer isn’t Zila’s only area of expertise. Zila also leads the industry in providing both professionals and consumers with innovative products in the areas of oral medicine, periodontal health, and infection control.

    ORAL MEDICINE
    In the area of oral medicine, Zila continually demonstrates its commitment to providing quality, innovative products that make treatment easier for both the dental professional and the patient.


    Zila’s line of Zilactin® products is best known as the number-one choice among the nation’s pharmacists and dental hygienists for the treatment of canker and cold sores. Zilactin® is the only brand to speed healing by forming a patented, bioadhesive film that holds the medication in place and seals irritants out, for up to six hours.

    Zilactin-B medicated gel treats and relieves pain from mouth sores, canker sores, bites and gum sores with the same patented, bioadhesive film as original Zilactin, plus the topical anesthetic Benzocaine, for extra relief.

    Zilactin-L medicated liquid treats and relieves the burning and itching associated with cold sores and fever blisters that form outside the mouth and around the lips. This non-film-forming version penetrates the affected area and contains the topical anesthetic Lidocaine for fast pain relief. The liquid formula makes it easy to apply cosmetics.

    Finally, Zilactin Baby is specially developed without saccharin, alcohol, or dyes to relieve teething pain. Zilactin Baby teething gel has the highest level of pain-relieving Benzocaine, and a gentle grape flavor, that delivers a soothing-cool sensation to baby’s gums.

    Perhaps the most intriguing advancement is the introduction of Zila’s patented swab technology that is revolutionizing the application of oral medication. Zila recently debuted its swab technology with the introduction of its over-the-counter Zilactin® Toothache & Oral Pain Swabs, providing patients with maximum pain relief in an easy-to-use and, most importantly, sanitary swab applicator.

    Each pre-medicated swab contains 20% benzocaine, one of the most effective non-prescription pain relievers for aching teeth, sore gums and pain from dentures and braces.

    Zila applied the same, patented technology to Pro-Swabs,™ a unique new topical anesthetic delivery system. Each individually medicated, single-use swab delivers 20% benzocaine to the application site with pinpoint accuracy.

    Pro-Swabs are ideal for pre-injection anesthesia at the injection site, as well as for numbing post-procedural pain. They feature a pleasant mint taste and are alcohol-free to eliminate stinging. Pro-Swabs are also indicated for the temporary relief of pain associated with toothaches, sore gums, dentures and braces.


    PERIODONTAL HEALTH
    With over 90% of the population suffering from periodontal disease, Zila is a proud leader in the area of periodontal health with Peridex®, one of the most widely used treatments for gingivitis. Peridex® is the first prescription oral rinse to receive the ADA Seal of Acceptance for the treatment of gingivitis.

    Used between dental visits, Peridex® reduces the redness, swelling and bleeding of gums caused by periodontal disease. With a pleasant herbal mint taste, Peridex continues to work even after rinsing because one third of its active ingredient — chlorhexidine gluconate — binds to oral surfaces and is slowly released into oral fluids.

    “While most of our products focus on treating periodontal disease, we at Zila still believe in the old adage, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ With that in mind, we introduced Pro-Ester-C® to help promote healthy teeth and gums before there’s a problem,” says Dr. Ralph Green, of Zila Pharmaceuticals.

    A recent study published by the American Academy of Periodontology showed that individuals who do not consume the minimal recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C are at a higher risk for developing gum disease.

    Vitamin C can promote the body’s ability to maintain and repair healthy connective tissue, like gums, and assist in the neutralization of tissue-destroying oxidants, many of which can be found in the mouth.

    Pro-Ester-C® is one of the only pro-fessionally dispensed nutraceutical recommended to promote optimal gingival health in soft-tissue management patients. Pro-Ester-C may promote healthy connective tissue repair and maintenance. Pro-Ester-C is BodyReady®, which means it is readily absorbed, goes to work immediately, and is gentle to the system. Pro-Ester-C also contains essential minerals like calcium and metabolites, which may enhance the uptake of Vitamin C by the body’s cells and tissues.

    INFECTION CONTROL
    Over the past year, Zila has launched several products focused on helping dental professionals protect themselves and their patients from infection.


    Zila Pro-Ties™: Addressing the need to be able to sterilize and sort the tens of dental instruments used in a busy dental office each day, Zila introduced the Pro-Ties™ bundling system. Made from 100% medical grade silicon that stretches up to three times its original size, Pro-Ties™ simplifies the process of bundling dental instruments for sterilization. Available in four colors for easy sorting, Pro-Ties™ replace makeshift “ponytail” holders that stretch out of shape, rust, and breed bacteria.

    Pro-Wash™ and Pro-Scrub™: Answering the call for improved aseptic practices, Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG)-based Pro-Wash™ and Pro-Scrub™ give dentists, hygienists and oral surgeons more protection than just wearing gloves alone.

    Less irritating and more effective than antibacterial washes, Pro-Wash is a .75% CHG hand wash that is ideal for use before general procedures and routine exams. Pro-Scrub is a 2% CHG hand scrub indicated for use for blood-involved procedures and oral surgery.

    Ideal for use by the entire staff, both Pro-Wash and Pro-Scrub are effective against a full spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, as well as fungi, yeast and most prevalent viruses, including HIV, herpes and influenza.

    “I am very proud of the reputation we at Zila have built through our constant efforts to provide the dental community with innovative products of the highest caliber,” says Dr. Ralph Green. “I have built my career on saving people’s teeth through cosmetic dentistry; now I want to save their lives through our advances in abnormal tissue screening.”

    For more information on Zila, visit www.zila.com or call 1-602-266-6700.

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