FDA OKs Sales of Davstar Device to Treat Incontinence

Davstar Industries Ltd. has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell an electrical device that was designed for use by women suffering from incontinence.

Company spokeswoman Lucy Walther-Kral said that Davstar officials have not determined how its DriStar Incontinence Management System will be sold. But she added that the company is looking at distributing it through retail outlets along with selling it to nursing homes and home health care companies.

She also declined to say how much the device is expected to add to the company’s bottom line, but pointed out that the potential market for the device is about $10.3 billion annually.

For 1993, Davstar posted a loss of $5.9 million on annual sales of $3.9 million, due in large part to research and development investments.

The DriStar, which can be plugged into electrical wall sockets or run on batteries, is about the size of a bread box and consists of a flexible hose that is connected to a small pump on one end and a specially designed feminine pad on the other end.

The pump, which is normally run 24 hours a day, removes moisture from the pad, Walther-Kral said.

Wall Street reacted positively to the news. Davstar stock closed at $6.375 a share Wednesday on the American Stock Exchange, up $1.675 a share.