About Apothecus and VCF Contraception
VCF Contraception
Apothecus Pharmaceutical Corporation is a very successful mid size Pharma Company headquartered in New York, USA that develops, manufactures and markets a portfolio of Over-the-Counter (“OTC”) healthcare products. The majority of the Company’s products utilize a proprietary dissolving film as a delivery system for pharmaceutical or other medicinally active ingredients.
The Company’s primary products are its VCF brand Vaginal Contraceptive Film (“VCF Film”) and VCF brand Vaginal Contraceptive Foam (“VCF Foam”). VCF is the leading brand in the OTC female contraceptive category. VCF Film consists of an ultra-thin, transparent, water-soluble, two-inch square of film incorporating a potent spermicide (N-9). This product is highly differentiated in the market and has numerous advantages compared to competitive products. Among these are: ease of use, small size and portability, undetectability by the user or partner,
VCF Contraceptive Foam is an N-9 based product offered by Apothecus and positioned to leverage the Company’s brand in the OTC female contraceptive market utilizing a traditional delivery medium. VCF Contraceptive Foam has become the leading foam based OTC contraceptive in North America today having essentially eliminated its primary competition in this segment.
The Company’s VCF products have been proven safe and effective. Numerous worldwide safety and efficacy studies, and years of in-use data on VCF products have validated overall safety. After over 150 million uses, there have been no serious side-effects noted.
The Company operates a highly efficient 30,000 square foot manufacturing, packaging and distribution plant near its headquarters. Apothecus’ film products are produced on state-of-the-art, customized equipment. Manufacturing is conducted on an automated basis in a clean room environment.
Throughout its history, Apothecus has successfully managed the complex, costly and time consuming regulatory processes governing its industry ensuring the Company is consistently in strict compliance with all applicable regulatory standards. Manufacturing and packaging equipment and all related processes are carefully documented and compliant with current FDA imposed Good Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”) and Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) regulations. In addition, all testing procedures have been validated for assay work and microbiological testing.
The Company is certified for both ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 international standards.
VCF products are distributed in over 25,000 outlets comprised of most major drug and mass retailers in North America including Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite-Aid and others.
VCF is the leading spermicide in over 6,000 family planning clinics throughout the country, and has been so for over 15 years. VCF is recognized as the most desirable OTC female
contraceptive available today, because of its compliance level by patients that use it. VCF also maintains 5 years shelf life on all batches produced. It is also distributed to organizations such as Planned Parenthood as well as state, county and city health departments. The VCF product line is well-known to the medical community and recommended by thousands of doctors, nurses and nurse mid-wives across the country.
Product Safety and Efficacy
The Company’s VCF Film has been the subject of numerous safety and efficacy studies conducted worldwide and its products have proven safe and effective after many years of use. Over 30 studies in countries including Great Britain and Japan have followed over 1000 women through 10,000 menstrual cycles. Based on these studies, when used as directed, the product shows an efficacy rate near the top of the scale for barrier spermicidal products and approaching within a few percentage points of the efficacy of condoms. VCF Film dissolves completely, and all elements of the product are washed away naturally by the body.
Our commitment to Education and Reproductive Choice
Apothecus has consistently been a supporter of reproductive choice and education to couples to prevent unplanned pregnancies which are at epidemic levels.
According to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control, 56% of sexually experienced women have used withdrawal as a contraceptive method (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad350.pdf) which has driven unintended pregnancies to nearly half of all births in the U.S. (http://www.cdc.gov/prams/2002PRAMSSurvReport/PDF/2k2PRAMS.pdf).
Most unplanned pregnancies are preventable through education and the development of and accessibility to birth control options. Apothecus donates millions of free samples of its birth control product to thousands of hospitals and clinics around the World for educational purposes.
Which Birth Control is Right for You
There are a lot of factors to be considered when choosing a birth control option. Visit our Birth Control Options Blog to help you determine what is best for you.
