National Bladder Awareness Month: A Look at the Facts about Pelvic Radiation Cancer Survivors

Lipella Pharmaceuticals promotes awareness of hemorrhagic cystitis, a chronic painful syndrome that can be acquired by cancer patients who have received pelvic radiation therapy.

PITTSBURGH, November 12, 2020 – During this November, Bladder Health Awareness Month, we promote the awareness of a serious bladder health condition, hemorrhagic cystitis, which affects many cancer survivors who received pelvic radiation. Patients with bladder damage after pelvic radiation include survivors of prostate, uterine/cervical and colon cancers. Hemorrhagic cystitis symptoms including painful urinary bleeding.

“During bladder awareness month we want to raise awareness regarding the effects of long-term radiation damage,” commented Jonathan Kaufman, Lipella’s Chief Executive Officer. “Hemorrhagic cystitis is a serious condition that can significantly affect quality of life for cancer survivors.”

“Radiation and chemotherapy, while helping to cure cancer, can also cause long-term damage that is difficult to treat with existing options.” commented Mr. George Harriston, President of the Radiation Cystitis Foundation.

About Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Radiation used to treat prostate, colon, uterine, cervical and other pelvic cancers can cause chronic, painful urinary inflammation and blood loss called hemorrhagic cystitis. Certain chemotherapies (such as cyclophosphamide) can also cause this painful form of urinary bleeding. The blood loss, associated with hemorrhagic cystitis can lead to surgery, and can be fatal. There are currently no adequate therapies available for the treatment of moderate to severe hemorrhagic cystitis patients.

Additional Facts about Hemorrhagic Cystitis

• There are approximately one million cancer survivors in the U.S. that have received pelvic radiation therapy for malignancies of the prostate, uterine, cervix, and colon.
• Highly debility symptoms, including not only blood in urine that can even clot off but also pain, and urinary incontinence. Hemorrhagic cystitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and yet there are no currently FDA approved drug treatment.
• A study from Loyola University of 886 men who received radiation for prostate cancer that overall, the risk for blood in urine was 23% 5 years after radiation and that increased to 42% of men 10 years after radiation for prostate cancer. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urpr.2015.01.001)

About Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a focus on capital efficient therapeutic development opportunities, including the proprietary repositioning of generics for rare, morbid diseases that currently have no adequate treatments, including hemorrhagic cystitis. Lipella has begun recruiting patients in the company’s phase 2a clinical trial to study the dose-dependent, safety and efficacy of LP-10 (liposomal tacrolimus) for the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis. Additional information is available at www.lipella.com. LP-10 is currently not approved for commercial use in any indication in the United States and is limited by U.S. Federal Law to investigational use only.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Lipella’ results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, including risks associated with clinical development, regulatory approvals, product commercialization, intellectual property claims and litigation and other risks. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors.

Contacts

Allison Houck
Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc.
412-894-1853
Email