Alcon Laboratories is or has launched a product in Europe that is
related to cerumen in the ear canal.  The product name sounds like
Sofens.  What is it?

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 21 Apr 2004 11:47 PDT

I haven't found any online mention of this product. It might be
helpful if we knew where you learned of it.

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Clarification of Question by accuracy1-ga on 21 Apr 2004 12:43 PDT

I learned about it at an annual otolaryngology conference sponsored by
Alcon and held in Australia the first week of April.  It was mentioned
by one of the presenters.

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 21 Apr 2004 17:15 PDT

Hi accuracy1, I have found one Alcon product with a similar name, but
it doesn't seem to be related to cerumen at all. Can you tell us
better just how this is realted to cerumen?

Thank you.
Regards,
crabcakes

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Clarification of Question by accuracy1-ga on 21 Apr 2004 20:01 PDT

My understanding was that it was to help clean cerumen out of the ear canal.

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 21 Apr 2004 21:44 PDT

Hi again accuracy1,

Azopt    or   Ciprodex?

Both by Alcon. One sounds similar to your remembered word, but has no
relation to cerumen. The other does not sound like ?Sofens? but used
cerumen samples upon which to research the product.


Azopt ® ophthalmic solution
Azopt (brinzolamide opthalmic solution, 1%) is an eye drop, intended
for treating glaucoma (not for use in the ears, and not for cerumen!)
http://www.drugs.com/PDR/Azopt_Ophthalmic_Suspension.html
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NYS/ACL/reports/2003ar.pdf

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/203544.html




I?m wondering if you may be referring to this study, by Alcon. This
study used cerumen samples to study bacteria that cause otitis media.
Alcon has done quite a bit of research the last few years, on otorrhea
and otitis.
Anti-infective Microbiology, Alcon Research, Ltd., Fort Worth, Texas
76134, USA. David.stroman@alconlabs.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11801996&dopt=Abstract

More about cerumen/Alcon
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/pipermail/irb-researchers/2002-December/000102.html
?In January 2002, Alcon Laboratories invited 11 clinicians from around
the world to participate in a clinical symposium on otorrhea. The
topics of discussion included the management of otorrhea following the
insertion of tympanostomy tubes, CSOM in indigenous communities and
developing countries, CSOM in adulthood, otitis externa, and the
management of cerumen. Ototoxicity associated with traditional topical
antibiotic therapy and drug resistance was also discussed.?
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0BUM/8_81/90869469/p1/article.jhtml


Ciprodex Otic Suspension
?In August, Alcon received U.S. FDA approval of Ciprodex otic
suspension for the treatment of both middle and outer ear infections.
This dual indication significantly expanded our ability to market otic
anti-infectives because our first otic product, CiproHC Otic
suspension, was indicated only for outer ear infections (Ciprodex and
Cipro are registered trademarks of Bayer AG).?

http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NYS/ACL/reports/2003ar.pdf

?Ciprodex(R) Otic for topical treatment of a middle ear infection known
as acute otitis media with tympanostomy tubes (AOMT) in children aged six
months and older.?
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-21-2003/0001986125&EDATE=

?Ciprodex(R) Otic for topical treatment of a middle ear infection
known as acute otitis media with tympanostomy tubes (AOMT) in children
aged six months and older. The FDA also approved Ciprodex(R) Otic for
the topical treatment of acute otitis externa (AOE), a common ear
infection also known as swimmer's ear?
http://invest.alconinc.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=ACL&script=410&layout=6&item_id=433389

?CIPRO® HC Otic supsension combines an anti-bacterial which fights
infection with a steroid that reduces pain and swelling. Using CIPRO
HC Otic is also easy - simply place 3 drops in the infected ear or
ears 2 times a day for 7 days. 3?2?7 - it's that easy. This dosing
schedule is shorter and more practical than that of other ear
medications.?
http://www.alconlabs.com/us/eo/CiproHC.jhtml


I'm posting this as a clarification, because I can't be sure either
one of these are correct. This is all I was able to find that was
remotely related to  cerumen/Alcon/Sofens. If one of these turns out
to jog your memory, I'll be glad to post this as an answer!

Regards,
crabcakes

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Clarification of Question by accuracy1-ga on 23 Apr 2004 05:34 PDT

Sorry, those aren't it.  I appreciate you trying though.  We've been
talking about it around here and think it may be a a product they have
pulled back because it's efficacy turned out to be under part.  I do
know that surgeons were happy with it, and there were 2 groups that
disagreed about it.  Either pediatrics liked it and GPs didn't or GPs
liked it and pediatrics didn't.