Mission Pharmacal's Lycelle® Head Lice Removal Kit Is Now Available In Pharmacies

SAN ANTONIO, May 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Pharmacal announced today that the former prescription Lycelle® Head Lice Removal Kit will now be available without a prescription. Lycelle is a treatment for the elimination of head lice and their eggs. Lycelle uses a non-pesticidal formulation that is safe for use with children as young as two years of age and is typically effective with just one 10 minute use. Lycelle is now available to consumers across the nation in retail and independent pharmacies.

Head lice infestation is the second most communicable disease among schoolchildren, after the common cold. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are between six to 12 million cases of head lice infestations each year, mostly in children three to 11 years old.¹ Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live on the human scalp and spread between people by head-to-head contact or the sharing of hats, combs, brushes or towels.

Each Lycelle Head Lice Removal Kit contains one 3.38 fl. oz. bottle of pre-combing gel and a single fine-toothed comb that is used to remove the lice and their eggs. Lycelle has a pleasant wintergreen scent and a brief application time, making treating young children a less-trying experience for both child and parent. Many other head lice treatments rely on pesticides that attack the lice's nervous system to kill the lice and, in some cases, their eggs.

Recent reports have indicated that in 25 states, many forms of lice have developed resistance to over-the-counter treatments containing pesticides.²

Costs associated with head lice infestations are estimated to be as high as $1 billion per year in the United States alone. Direct costs include treatments and clinic visits, while indirect costs range from school nurse time to school absenteeism to lost wages.³

Phill Dritsas, Senior Vice President of Mission Pharmacal Specialty Marketing, says "For those suffering with lice, being able to find a convenient, cost-effective relief and the advice from their pharmacist may mean the difference between children returning to school the next day and parents' not missing work waiting to apply additional lice treatments." He further adds, "We see pharmacists as a natural extension of our continuous commitment to helping Americans make important health decisions, whether it's choosing a hospital, doctor, diet or medication."

Mission Pharmacal will support Lycelle with an aggressive, multifaceted marketing program directed first to retail and independent pharmacies, followed by a national campaign to reach school nurses and pediatricians.

For more information about Lycelle or to order product, please call 1.800.531.3333.

About Mission Pharmacal

Mission Pharmacal Company is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in San Antonio, Texas. For nearly seven decades, the company has been improving the lives of people through every stage of life by identifying unmet healthcare needs and delivering innovative, high-quality prescription, over-the-counter, and dietary supplement products to meet these needs using only the purest ingredients and FDA-approved methods of manufacturing. Mission is recognized as a pioneer and leader in the therapeutic areas of women's health and urology and also offers leading products through its pediatric, dermatology, primary care, and long-term care service lines. Using an innovative business model, Mission has created wholly-owned subsidiaries, BioComp Pharma®, Inc., a generic drug marketer; Alamo Pharma Services®, Inc., a specialized contract sales organization; ProSolus®, Inc., a transdermal drug developer and manufacturer; and BexR Logistics^TM LLC, a logistics and fulfillment arm, to diversify its offerings and build forward-thinking partnerships with other pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Mission Pharmacal is a proud national supporter of the March of Dimes Foundation®, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. To learn more, please visit missionpharmacal.com.

*Data on file. Individual results may vary.
¹ http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html   
² http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2015/august/lice.html
³ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090930005122/en/Study-Journal-Pediatrics%C2%AE

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SOURCE Mission Pharmacal Company

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