Mission Pharmacal Company and DARA BioSciences Inc. have expanded their partnership with the U.S. launch of Oravig (miconazole), the first and only orally- dissolving muco-adhesive buccal tablet approved to treat adults with oral thrush.

In total, more than 28 million prescriptions are currently filled annually for oral thrush in the U.S. Specific to the Oravig launch, the Mission sales team will focus on reaching primary care physicians while the DARA sales force focuses on the oncology market. The move simultaneously begins the promotion of Oravig with two separate sales forces focusing on the highest prescribing physicians of oral thrush therapy. DARA was granted exclusive U.S. rights to Oravig in March 2015, under a Commercialization Agreement with Onxeo S.A., an innovative company specializing in the development of orphan oncology drugs.

Oral thrush, an infection of the mouth caused by the Candida fungus, also known as yeast, can affect people of all ages, including older adults and those with weakened immune systems, and represents a large market opportunity.

“The Oravig launch represents a significant therapeutic addition to Mission’s primary care division’s promoted product portfolio, while further strengthening and expanding upon our existing relationship with the DARA team,” said Terry Herring, Mission Pharmacal president, commercial operations. “We are convinced that DARA and Mission Pharmacal are the ideal partners to successfully promote Oravig and other select products in the U.S.”

Oravig represents the third prescription product Mission and Dara have partnered on. Previous products include an iron supplement medication indicated for the treatment of all anemias that are responsive to oral iron therapy and a medical device that is intended to provide relief from dry mouth due to certain diseases, medication use, inflammation, chemo or radiotherapy, stress or aging.