New treatment for STDs

Drug Store News, Feb 18, 1991

New treatment for STDs

Oclassen Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for Condylox [R] and Monodox [R], two new treatments for the two most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD), chlamydia and genital warts (herpes).

Condylox (0.5% podofilox) is a topical product applied by the patient to treat genital warts. Other conventional therapy necessitates a visit to the physician's office or a surgical procedure. With Condylox, the patient applies the solution to the wart twice daily for three consecutive days, followed by four days with no treatment. It is estimated that 1.4 million patients a year visit physicians for treatment of genital warts.

The drug has undergone extensive clinical trials both here and abroad and is currently being marketed in various Scandinavian and European countries.

Oclassen's other drug, Monodox (doxycycline monohydrate), is indicated in the treatment of chlamydia. Chlamydia is sometimes referred to as the "silent STD" because its early symptoms are mild or difficult to detect.

Chlamydia can usually be cured by antibiotics taken over a period of seven to ten days. Monodox contains doxycyline in its monohydrate form. The monohydrate is virtually pH neutral compared to the more acidic doxycyline hyclate antibiotics currently available. Therefore, there is less likelihood for esophageal ulceration.

The FDA's approval of Monodox also included approval for its use in treating skin conditions such as severe acne. Other diseases it may be used to treat include urinary tract infections, Lyme disease and respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis.