MANUFACTURER OF BREATHE RIGHT NASAL STRIPS CAUTIONS ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE RESEARCHERS TO SET PROPER MEASURES.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 1996--

Flawed methodology leads to debate over athletic benefits

Several researchers have recently indicated that use of a Breathe Right nasal strip enhances athletic performance among some athletes. Other research, including a recent study at Illinois State University, has found no such correlation, leading the product's manufacturer to caution that the key to accurately measuring the product's sports performance benefits is to understand what to measure.

According to Dr. Daniel Cohen, CEO of CNS Inc., the manufacturer of Breathe Right(R) nasal strips, the single most important indicator of the effect of Breathe Right strips is the cross sectional area of the nasal valve region. This measurement must be correlated to the other measured variables.

"We welcome and encourage future research on the effects of Breathe Right strips, but stress that studies need to include the proper indicators," said Dr. Cohen. "In measuring nasal dilators, for example, the nose of each participant needs to be taken into account. If a Breathe Right strip opens my nose more than the person next to me, it will have more of an effect. If I'm congested or having trouble breathing, it will have even more of an effect.

"We've talked with many researchers preparing to study the effect of Breathe Right strips on athletic performance and cautioned them that unless they test for change in the nasal cross sectional area, they're not using the correct indicators," said Dr. Cohen. "In cases where that is not taken into account, such as the study from Illinois State, accurate research results cannot be expected."

Athletic studies previously reported from St. Cloud State University and the University of St. Thomas have shown statistically significant results when cross sectional area of the nasal valve region is correlated with certain physiologic measurements. In particular, the St. Cloud State study, performed on NCAA Division II college football players, demonstrated that those subjects whose nasal passageways were opened to a greater extent had reduced recovery times between sprints and could complete a larger number of consecutive sprints.

"The individuals in this study with definite improvement in nasal cross sectional area due to Breathe Right nasal strips were better able to recover from repeated sprints," stated Dr. David Bacharach, St. Cloud State researcher.

The benefits of the nasal strips, as the study indicates, are greater for an athlete who suffers from congestion, allergies, structural damage (deviated septum) or simply has difficulty breathing through the nose. NFL standout Jerry Rice first began sporting the strips during the 1994 season to ease congestion while playing.

Another study, performed at the University of St. Thomas, tested 10 elite cyclists and concluded that there was an increase in oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production correlated to the decrease in nasal resistance during recovery periods while wearing a Breathe Right strip.

"It stands to reason that the benefit of the Breathe Right strip will be most consistently demonstrated in those individuals who feel the greatest change in ease of nasal breathing after the nasal strip is applied," said Cohen.

The St. Cloud State and St. Thomas studies are consistent with the medical studies performed to date which have repeatedly demonstrated reduced nasal airflow resistance, a reduction or elimination of snoring by improving nasal breathing, relief of nasal congestion and improved breathing in persons with a deviated nasal septum.

"While athletic usage comprises less than ten percent of our sales, we recognize that our association with athletics has been instrumental to the growth of the company and we continue to consider it as a growing area," Cohen said.

Invented by an allergy sufferer in 1987, Breathe Right nasal strips were first cleared to market as a medical device in late 1993. In addition to its initial clearance for reducing or eliminating snoring by improving nasal breathing, the strips have since been recognized as a temporary treatment for nasal congestion and for temporary treatment for breathing difficulties associated with deviated septum. The strips are available in the cough/cold sections of drug, grocery and discount stores, and in sporting goods stores. They are produced by CNS Inc., located in Minneapolis, and distributed internationally by 3M.

CONTACT: Daniel Cohen, M.D., Chairman and CEO

Kirk Hodgdon, Vice President, Consumer Marketing

CNS, Inc.

612/820-6696