Fertility Centers of Illinois Offers First-Ever Needle-Free Treatment for Infertility; Local Physicians First In Illinois To Prescribe New Ouch-Free Injection System Through Patient Study.

GLENVIEW, Ill. -- Women considering infertility treatment no longer need to fear the daily shots. The Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) announced today that a convenient needle-free system, called the Biojector(R) Device, is now available exclusively to patients using Ferring Pharmaceutical fertility treatments. Eligible patients will try the needle-free system as part of a study to help determine the overall effectiveness and comfort level of the device. FCI was selected as the first and only infertility practice in Illinois to use the Biojector(R) Device due to its standard of care and success in treating the majority of infertility patients in the Chicagoland area. This marks the first-ever needle-free treatment for infertility patients taking gonadotropins, the standard infertility medication.

"FCI is delighted to be able to offer patients a simpler, more convenient treatment for infertility that eliminates the fear, pain and anxiety many patients experience with needles," says Aaron Lifchez, Reproductive Endocrinologist and President, Fertility Centers of Illinois. "The Biojector(R) is a more comfortable means of administering the daily injections, improving patient safety and compliance, and reducing the possibility of error and accidental needle-sticks."

Once available to the public at large there will be a rental fee for the device. However, currently, FCI is able to loan the Biojector(R) device to patients free of charge. In addition, a modest amount of medication will be supplied by Ferring free of charge for the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. The usual and customary fees will be charged for the IVF cycle itself.

How the Biojector(R) Works

In infertility treatment, women inject themselves or have their partner inject them with medication each day during a cycle, which they may repeat for up to three or more cycles. The Medication used with or without in vitro fertilization (IVF), stimulates the ovary to produce follicles, which contain ripening eggs.

The Biojector(R) needle-free device is designed to deliver medications comfortably, accurately, quickly and safely, reducing the pain, anxiety and fear of needles. It prevents accidental needle-sticks, consistently delivers injections to the same depth, and reduces the possibility of error and the tendency for women to skip or even stop treatment.

In a fraction of a second, the needle-free device forces the medication through a tiny opening held against the skin, creating an ultra-fine stream of high-pressure fluid that penetrates the skin. Reconstituting the medication before inserting it into the Biojector(R) is also easy and needle-free, using a device packaged with Ferring fertility medications called Q-Cap(TM). Ferring fertility medications require only one injection per day, even when the doctor prescribes a mix of medications.

About Fertility Centers of Illinois

Fertility Centers of Illinois, S.C., is one of the nation's leading infertility treatment practices, providing advanced reproductive endocrinology services in the Chicago area for over 25 years. FCI performs more IVF than the next nine clinics combined, over 2,500 cycles per year. FCI has more babies born than the next ten centers combined with high success rates that are recognized throughout the nation. In addition to a team of nationally recognized reproductive physicians who collaborate with each other to stay current on the latest technology and procedures, FCI patients have access to many other unique support services such as professional counseling from a licensed, Ph.D. clinical psychologist, patient advocates and innovative financial options. FCI's multiple offices are conveniently located throughout the Chicago area.