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Dental Anesthesia Reversal Drug

November 14th, 2008 · No Comments

This February at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, Novalar will introduce a drug that reverses the effects of dental anesthesia injections. OraVerse will come in prepackaged inserts for syringes, and it will cost about $12.50 per injection. Patients who dislike the lingering numbness caused by anesthesia will enjoy prompt reversal of the sensation, up to 80 minutes faster than without OraVerse. While the medication was approved by the FDA in May 2008, packaging concerns prevented Novalar from introducing OraVerse at the San Antonio ADA conference in October 2008.

How will OraVerse do in the market? Surveys show a strong interest in the drug, and about 30% of responding dentists say they’ll offer OraVerse. Novalar doesn’t expect insurance to cover the medication, but today, many patients are accustomed to out-of-pocket expense at the dentist’s office. No other company is offering a similar drug at this time, so OraVerse has no competition.

In the next five years or so, Novalar plans to introduce another drug, a polymer fiber coated with antibiotic. It can be inserted into a tooth following a root canal. This drug will eliminate the need for oral antibiotics and allow for localized application and effective results.   

SOURCE: Xconomy.com; NCTimes.com

Tags: Clinical