Technology
The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in the Company's lead product (Bethanamist®) is Bethanechol Chloride, a cholinergic agent which is structurally and pharmacologically related to acetylcholine. Bethanechol Chloride has been FDA approved for over 40 years for the treatment of urinary retention. The compound is a direct acting muscarinic cholinergic agonist that mimics the effect of acetylcholine and increases muscle contractility which primarily effects urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. Bethanamist has added naturally occurring GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) absorption enhancing compounds to Bethanechol Chloride to greatly increase the bioavailability and subsequent bio-uptake within the esophageal tract. The result is an increase in activation of the esophageal sphincter as well as an increase in the amplitude and velocity of peristalsis in the smooth muscle esophagus, thus improving the entire swallowing process.