ST. PAUL, Minnesota--3M has announced that it has acquired the manufacturing and marketing rights to the PERIDEX brand periodontal rinse product from Zila Inc. for $9.5 million in cash.
OMNI Preventive Care, a 3M ESPE Company since early 2006, has sold PERIDEX brand oral rinse to dentists in the U.S. since 2000.
"Through this acquisition of the PERIDEX brand, we now own all the rights related to the PERIDEX business beyond our existing distribution," said Jeffrey R. Lavers, division vice president, 3M ESPE. "The full PERIDEX oral rinse business further strengthens 3M's preventive dental product line and enables us to continue to deliver even more preventive oral care solutions to dental professionals as they help treat patients with periodontal infections and diseases."
Periodontal diseases are serious bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss.
PERIDEX 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse is a prescription mouth rinse that reduces the redness, swelling and bleeding of gums caused by gingivitis. The rinse, which features an herbal mint taste, continues to work after rinsing because one third of its active ingredient--chlorhexidine gluconate--binds to oral surfaces and is slowly released into oral fluids.
"3M's expertise in the dental preventive products industry, along with its research and development, will help continue to build the PERIDEX brand, which is considered the gold standard in periodontal rinses," said Frank Bellizzi, DMD, president of Zila Pharmaceuticals Inc.
3M ESPE manufactures and markets more than 2,000 products and services designed to help dental professionals improve their patients' oral health care. 3M Health Care, one of 3M's six major business segments, provides world-class innovative products and services to help health care professionals improve the practice and delivery of patient care in medical, oral care, drug delivery and health information markets.
For more information on the complete 3M ESPE line of dental products, visit the 3M ESPE Web site at 3M ESPE, or call the 3M ESPE Customer Care Hotline at (800) 634-2249.
