Migami has acquired the license rights for all of Asia for the Bi-Layer Film technology and is in the process of acquiring all of the film-strip technology on a global basis. This technology enables the Company to deliver a drug active in a thin film strip. For example, this technology was used in the successful development of Chloraseptic Sore Throat Relief Strips in June 2003, which was the first delivery of a drug active to film strip. Research is being conducted in the development and formulation of thin films for all types of medicinal treatments. These applications encompass allergies, pain, cough and cold, insomnia, intestinal disorders, electrolyte replacement, motion sickness, sexual and animal health. The market for film strips is tremendous.
The Pfizer Warner Lambert® Consumer Healthcare division introduced Listerine PocketPaks in 2001 and sold over 100 million units in 2002. Listerine’s breath-freshener strips were named one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions for 2002. In 2003, sales of Listerine PocketPaks exceeded USD 250 million. That same year, sales of Wrigley’s Eclipse Flash Strips exceeded USD 70 million. The success of the breath strips have clearly proven that consumers accept and enjoy film strips. In fact, in a study conducted by marketers of Chloraseptic Sore Throat Strips found that nearly nine (9) in ten (10), or 89% of people gave the strips a positive rating, with 57% claiming they liked them a lot. In that same study, 88% of the subjects stated that they would purchase edible film strips. Over the past two (2) years, sales of Chloraseptic Sore Throat Relief Strips has exceeded USD 11 million. Because this is such a new category, it is difficult to find industry-wide data showing the actual size of the medicant film-strip market, but it is clear that the market is growing rapidly.