Women First HealthCare

Women First HealthCare was a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the health and wellness of mid-life women. Based in San Diego and founded in 1996, the company focused on commercializing a portfolio of prescription drugs and consumer products addressing menopause, endometriosis, and pain management. Key products in its commercial line included the Esclim estradiol patch, the Synarel nasal spray for endometriosis, and the antibacterial brand Bactrim. The company also marketed Ortho-Est for hormone replacement therapy and the analgesic Synalgos-DC. Following financial challenges exacerbated by the declining market for hormone replacement therapy, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004. Its pharmaceutical assets were subsequently auctioned and sold to various manufacturers, effectively ending its operations as an independent entity.