Northern Research Laboratories today announced that Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSIC) will be the exclusive worldwide distributor of Debacterol canker sore treatment in the clinician market. Debacterol, developed by Northern Research Laboratories, is a topical treatment that, with a single, properly applied application, completely stops the pain of canker sores in seconds and dramatically reduces the sores' healing time. Henry Schein, the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based healthcare practitioners in the combined North American and European markets, will distribute Debacterol to dentists and medical doctors for professional use.
"Our partnership with Henry Schein will give more dentists, doctors and their patients access to quick and easy treatment of oral lesions," said Reginald Dupre, CEO and President of Northern Research Laboratories. "While we have distributed Debacterol to more than 50,000 health care professionals in the United States, Henry Schein can help us broaden the delivery of this treatment in the United States and around the globe."
Left untreated, oral lesions can cause extreme pain and take as long as 14 to 16 days to heal. Debacterol is one of the only canker sore treatments available that chemically cauterizes the oral lesion in one treatment, eliminating the pain without harming healthy surrounding tissue. More than 70 percent of the lesions treated with Debacterol had complete healing in six days, according to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. A single application of Debacterol with a cotton swab has been found to stop canker sore pain permanently in five seconds.
Debacterol is available by prescription through dentists and medical doctors and has been recognized as a pre-amendment drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Henry Schein will begin distribution of Debacterol this month.
About Northern Research Laboratories Northern Research Laboratories, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products initially focused on oral diseases. Incorporated in 1931, the company's lead product, DEBACTEROL, is a topical pharmaceutical used in the treatment of pathological conditions of the mouth. Northern Research Laboratories is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.
About Henry Schein, Inc. Recognized for its excellent customer service and low prices, Henry Schein serves more than 400,000 customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates its five business groups - Dental, Medical, Veterinary, International and Technology - through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a comprehensive selection of over 80,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products. Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice solutions, including such leading practice management software systems as DENTRIX® and Easy Dental®, for dental practices, and AVImark® for veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 44,000 practices; and ArubA®, Henry Schein's electronic catalog and ordering system. Headquartered in Melville, New York, Henry Schein employs over 6,500 people in 16 countries. The Company's 2000 sales reached a record $2.4 billion. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.