Cleveland Clinic Florida Beginning Clinical Trials Of New Treatment for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

    FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 7 -- Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCF) is beginning clinical trials of a new product to treat female stress urinary incontinence, a progressively worsening condition commonly experienced by women older than 40 years of age.
    Urinary incontinence, which means the involuntary loss of urine, affects about 16 million Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Most victims are women. The condition is considered one of the major causes of institutionalization of the elderly.
    The new urethral bulking agent, developed by Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PPTI), is in clinical testing at 3 facilities in the United States. The trials at CCF, the only in Florida, will be directed by G. Willy Davila, M.D., Chairman, Department of Gynecology at CCF who specializes in urogynecology and urinary incontinence.
    "We are very excited and optimistic about the potential results this new product will provide our patients at Cleveland Clinic Florida. We hope it will help our female patients suffering from stress urinary incontinence to achieve continence," Dr. Davila said.
    Said Harry K. Moon, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Florida: "At Cleveland Clinic Florida, we are committed to continuing to remain at the leading edge of medical research and technology. Our participation in this clinical trial confirms our commitment to finding newer and better ways to provide our patients with the highest medical care and attention."
    PPTI's urethral bulking agent has been designed to address the shortcomings in biocompatibility, ease of use, and durability associated with other existing treatments. After injected, the product transforms from a liquid to a hydrogel, forming a solid implant and, as a result, is expected to enable patients to remain "dry" longer than patients treated with other product formulations.

    Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc., is a San Diego-based company focused on developing products to improve medical and surgical outcomes. From its inception in 1988, PPTI has been a pioneer in protein design and synthesis, developing an extensive portfolio of proprietary biomaterials.

    Cleveland Clinic Florida is an integral part of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, a not-for-profit, multi-specialty referral group practice renowned worldwide for providing outstanding medical excellence with an emphasis on research and education. Cleveland Clinic Florida has more than 150 physicians with expertise in more than 40 specialties. It has facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Weston.
    Cleveland Clinic Florida expects its medical staff to grow during the next few years to more than 250 salaried physicians. Cleveland Clinic Florida currently is building a $150 million medical campus and hospital in Weston, as well as a 70-bed hospital in Naples. The Weston campus is scheduled to open July 2001 and the Naples hospital in Spring 2001. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit its Web site at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/florida.