ParaPRO: Innovations in Life Sciences

Welcome to ParaPRO
ParaPRO is a Specialty Pharmaceutical Company created in 2002 to acquire, develop, and commercialize proprietary products in focused high potential markets. Our first product, a promising new medicine for the treatment of head lice, is currently in human clinical trials.

Article in Boston Globe Sunday Magazine discusses head lice and ParaPRO.
Included are quotes from ParaPRO president Bill Culpepper and technology advisory board members John Clark and Richard Pollack. For a link to the March 2, 2008 article click here:

NatrOVA™ – a crème rinse containing Spinosad
A promising new medicine
ParaPRO is developing a crème rinse containing a family friendly formulation that is lethal to head lice. The active ingredient, Spinosad, is derived from a naturally occurring soil organism and was awarded the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award to recognize its innovation in cleaner and smarter chemistry.

Information on Spinosad..

Current ParaPRO News!
Does your child have head lice?
If you have or think your child might have head lice, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study. Eligible participants will receive compensations for time and travel. For more information, click here >>>>

Does existing head lice therapy work? Please let us know.
ParaPRO is conducting a survey with healthcare professionals and parents of children with head lice from around the country to determine how current prescription and over the counter therapy is working to control head lice. Please take this short survey and receive a free copy of “Yikes-Lice!” by Donna Caffey and Patrick Girouard (Paperback - Mar 2002) by mail.

ParaPRO LLC awarded $2.1 Million Grant from State of Indiana
Funds will be used to help finance Phase 3 investigational clinical trials for promising head lice product
Full story/Press Release >>

John Clark (UMASS) and Richard Pollack (Harvard School of Public Health) join ParaPRO Technology Advisory Board, May 2007
Full story >>

Roland Bydlon appointed as Director of Marketing, January 2007
Full story >>

Current Head Lice News
Taro Pharmaceutical Industries (the marketer of Ovide®) agrees to be acquired by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries in a transaction valued at $454 Million
Full story >>

Alliant Pharmaceuticals (marketer of Lindane) to be acquired by Sciele Pharma in transaction valued at $122 Million
Full story >>

Therapy for Head Lice Based on Life Cycle, Resistance, and Safety Considerations
Pediculicides that are not reliably ovicidal (pyrethroids and lindane) require 2 to 3 treatment cycles to eradicate lice. Ovicidal therapies (malathion) require 1 to 2 treatments. Treatment with an agent to which there is genetic resistance is unproductive. In the United States, lice have become increasingly resistant to pyrethroids and lindane but not to malathion.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 119 No. 5 May 2007, pp. 965-974 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-3087)
Full story >>

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy on treating head lice
Full story >>

Current FDA guidance on Lindane  (May 2007)
Full story >>