SPARTANBURG, S.C. | January 18, 2011 – Norgenix Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spartanburg-based J M Smith Corporation, and Fertility Focus Limited today announced a strategic alliance and revealed its first medical device co-promotion, the FertiloscopeTM. Norgenix is a North American specialty pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology company that engages in the development, commercialization, and sales of products in the women’s health arena. Norgenix is licensed to sell, market, and distribute prescription drug products and medical devices in all 50 U.S. states. Fertility Focus is a United Kingdom based company that develops devices aimed at the infertility market.
“We are pleased to announce our partnership with Fertility Focus,” stated Ken Couch, President of Norgenix Pharmaceuticals, LLC. “Fertility Focus’s Fertiloscope is an innovative product that perfectly aligns with our strategic mission to offer solutions to unmet needs in women’s health.”
Norgenix is partnering with Fertility Focus for the co-promotion of the FertiloscopeTM, a CE marked and 510(k) approved surgical instrument for the early diagnosis and immediate corrective surgery of physical causes of female infertility. Norgenix has exclusive rights to market and distribute the FertiloscopeTM in the United States, as well as US territories and military bases. The product will benefit from the strategic support of Glenveigh Medical as well, with whom Norgenix has an existing alliance in the U.S. to promote medical devices developed by Glenveigh.
Developed by the eminent French surgeon Dr. Antoine Watrelot, the FertiloscopeTM, is a novel laparoscope for minimally invasive trans-vaginal use in a procedure that is known as Fertiloscopy. The FertiloscopeTM is the only method of primary screening that provides gold standard accuracy in a day-case or office setting. This relatively new surgical technique is used for the early diagnosis and immediate treatment of a number of disorders of the female reproductive organs.
“It is our goal that the Fertiloscope becomes the method of choice for primary screening of the physical causes of infertility,” stated Robert Milnes, Chief Executive Officer of Fertility Focus Limited. “Through the extensive sales network that Norgenix offers, combined with Glenveigh’s medical expertise, we will be able to introduce the Fertiloscope to infertility specialists across the United States and improve outcomes for their patients.”
“Fertiloscopeis an innovative solution in providing primary screening for infertility,” stated Michael Rackley, COO & Senior Vice President of Norgenix. “Not only does it provide a solution to an unmet need in the marketplace, but most importantly it does so with a potential cost savings to the healthcare system and increases the speed in which problems can be diagnosed and the appropriate treatment pathway chosen.”
Rackley continued, “The investment in Fertility Focus and the exclusive distribution rights for the Fertiloscope and other Fertility Focus products further strengthens the Norgenix goal of providing cost effective solutions to un-met medical needs in the therapeutic area of women’s health. In conjunction with our partners at Glenveigh Medical we intend to introduce several new and innovative technologies in 2011.”
Norgenix is dedicated to in-licensing product opportunities and building strategic alliances with companies interested in maximizing the value of products that fulfill unmet medical needs in the U.S. marketplace. As a strategic partner, Norgenix and the related J M Smith partner companies will provide strategic direction and capitalization to build success.
To learn more, visit Norgenix at the Annual Meeting of the AAGL (American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists) or visit www.fertility-focus.com.
ABOUT FERTILITY FOCUS LIMITED | www.fertility-focus.com
Fertility Focus Limited was established in 2005 to address the problem of infertility. Its mission is to halve the time and cost to pregnancy for infertile couples by introducing a second generation of diagnostic and therapeutic products into the market. Infertility is a problem which affects around 1 in 7 couples worldwide, and the number seeking help for infertility is estimated to be growing at 8% p.a. due mainly to couples leaving the raising of families until later in life. The Centers for Disease Control reports that over 11% of women of childbearing age in the United States have visited infertility services. Fertility Focus is based in the United Kingdom.
ABOUT NORGENIX | www.norgenixpharma.com
Norgenix, a wholly owned subsidiary of the JM Smith Corporation, is a North American specialty pharmaceutical, medical device, and bio tech company that engages in the development, commercialization, and sales of pharmaceutical products in the women’s health arena. Founded in 2008, Norgenix offers quality products that provide solutions to the unmet needs within women’s health. With products spanning the continuum of care from pharmaceutical therapies to medical devices, Norgenix is licensed to sell, market, and distribute prescription drug products and medical devices in all 50 U.S. states.
ABOUT GLENVEIGH MEDICAL | www.glenveigh.com
Glenveigh Medical is a life science and technology based company focused on advancing the practice of obstetrics. Founded in 2004 by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Glenveigh prides itself on bringing innovative solutions to the obstetrics industry, relying upon its scienti?c and medical advisors to provide guidance on market opportunities that will bene?t not only the company, but also, more importantly, patients in need. Glenveigh launched the ebb™ (post partum hemorrhage) and jetty™ (vaginal repairs) devices in 2010. Glenveigh Medical is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.