Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC, announces strategic alliance with Nephro-Tech 1, LLC

ATLANTA, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Avion Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced its recent transaction with Shawnee, Kan.-based Nephro-Tech 1, LLC, to license and market Formical® (calcium formate) on a semi-exclusive basis  as part of its Prenate® Vitamin Family and women's health portfolio. 

Formical is a patented form of calcium also known as calcium formate.  Clinical studies demonstrate that calcium formate is absorbed more rapidly, more efficiently, and to a greater extent than calcium citrate and calcium carbonate.¹  

Calcium formate also is remarkably soluble, believed to be a likely factor in its ability to promote easier calcium absorption. Unlike calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, which require stomach acid to be solubilized, calcium formate goes into solution in water. This property of calcium formate is especially important for patients suffering from hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria (low or absent levels of gastric acid in the stomach).

"Avion is excited about the opportunity to include Formical when formulating new products within our Prenate® brand portfolio.  Given the calcium-deficiency issue in our country and the important role calcium intake plays in supporting healthy pregnancies, we are eager to offer a form of calcium that will provide superior benefits for prenatal, pregnant and postnatal patients in a safe and highly absorbable product," stated Mike Sullivan, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for Avion Pharmaceuticals.  "Formical has been clinically demonstrated to provide an advantage over current forms of calcium available, and Avion is pleased to take the lead in bringing products to market that include Formical."

Avion CEO Mark Pugh added, "Avion Pharmaceuticals continues with our mission to provide products that deliver maximum benefit along every step in a woman's life.  We are proud that Formical helps fulfill this mission through this enhanced form of calcium. Our continuing goal is to understand women's health needs and to match products that deliver positive support to help ensure improved quality of life for women of all ages and life stages."

About Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC.

Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC., is a Specialty Pharmaceutical company formed to develop and market a portfolio of innovative products in the Women's Heath and Dermatology therapeutic areas.  Avion Pharmaceuticals focuses on identifying opportunities to acquire and enhance the market potential of innovative, commercially available therapeutics and late-stage development drugs to fulfill unmet medical needs.  For additional information about Avion Pharmaceuticals please contact the company at 678-325-5188. For any questions or additional information about Formical® please contact Raj Riswadkar, Senior Vice President at Novadiol, Inc. 314.600.6027

¹ Hanzlik RP, Fowler SC, Fisher DH. Relative bioavailability of calcium from calcium formate, calcium citrate, and calcium carbonate. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005; 313(3):12171222

Formical is a registered trademark of Nephro-Tech 1, LLC, covered by one or more claims of U.S. Patent No. 6,528,542

SOURCE Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC