Zestra™ for Women Eliminates Sexual Side Effects of Antidepressants in Women

(CHARLESTON, SC) December 5, 2001 /PRNewswire.com/ - QualiLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the final results of its subset analysis of antidepressant effects on the efficacy study of Zestra™ for Women. Zestra™ for Women is a topically applied, botanical feminine massage oil formulated to enhance female sexual pleasure, increase warmth, sensitivity & sensation, & facilitate arousal when applied to the clitoris, labia, and vaginal opening. Zestra™ for Women is not a drug. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and has not been evaluated by the FDA.

The title of the study was: THE EFFECT OF ANTIDEPRESSANT USAGE ON THE EFFICACY OF ZESTRA™ FOR WOMEN IN WOMEN WITH, AND WITHOUT, FEMALE SEXUAL AROUSAL DISORDER by D. Ferguson, C. Steidle, G. Singh, S. Alexander, K. Weihmiller, and M. Crosby. Antidepressants of the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor class (SSRIs) are well known to decrease sexual desire, arousal, orgasms, and sexual pleasure. Drugs of this class include Prozac® (Lilly), Luvox® (Solvay), Zoloft® (Pfizer), Paxil® (Glaxo Smith Kline), Celexa® (Forest), Desyrel® (Mead-Johnson), and Serzone® (Bristol Myers Squibb).

The use of SSRIs in normal and FSAD women had no effect on the responses to Zestra™ for Women in at-home use. Zestra™ for Women improved level of desire (P<.001), satisfaction with level of sexual arousal (P<.05), frequency of orgasm (P<.05), level of sexual arousal (P<.01), genital sensation (P<.001), sexual pleasure (P<.01), frequency of orgasms (P<.05), and enhancement of sexual experiences (P<.01) in normal and FSAD women regardless of SSRI usage. "This study is a landmark in demonstrating the elimination of the undesirable sexual side effects of SSRIs in women." said Dr. Ferguson, a prominent researcher in sexual dysfunction studies and consultant for QualiLife who managed the study.

About QualiLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Women's Consumer Product Division)
QualiLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held Delaware corporation based in Charleston, SC. To maximize the commercial opportunity of the proprietary Women's Sexual Health consumer product Zestra™ for Women, the Company intends to seek a corporate partner such as a major pharmaceutical company with a strong consumer products division. The Company will exhibit at the Sexual Medicine Society of North America conference in Charleston December 7th - 9th.

Contact: Martin G. Crosby, RPh. - President & Chief Scientific Officer
843.402.0901 or mcrosby@zestra-women.com

Industry: Health, Pharmaceutical
Keywords: South Carolina, Delaware