It may not come as a huge surprise to you, but up until this point, there has been relatively little research for properly preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). Uqora, the San Diego-based urinary health company, is looking to change this. With UTIs being the second most common diagnosis in the United States, Uqora recognizes how devastating recurring UTIs can be to the women who live with them. That’s why the company is taking the initiative to contribute research and funding to health issues that mostly affect women.
These infections compromise women’s lives and can be a major concern for the many women who deal with multiple infections every year. Due to the scarce amount of UTI research available, the definitive answer to treating recurrent UTIs have been antibiotics. This can lead to overprescribing antibiotics, and prolonged use can potentially lead to antibiotic resistance. This means that the bacteria has developed a resistance to the prescribed drug and can outlive a round of antibiotics. From there, they can then hide out and multiply in the urinary tract, causing re-infections and beginning the cycle anew.
With growing concerns over antibiotic resistance, Uqora’s research into UTIs preventatives is more important than ever. Teaming up with two third-party research groups, Hawthorne Effect and George Washington University, Uqora continues its efforts to advance research into effective UTI prevention.
Uqora and Urinary Health in Women with Recurring UTIs and George Washington University Urology Clinical Trial on Uqora and UTI Prevention
The study, Uqora and Urinary Health in Women with Recurring UTIs, is being coordinated by Hawthorne Effect Inc. The study began in August 2019 and is scheduled for an August 2020 completion date. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human subject clinical trial. There are 360 total participants in the study, and they have been split into three groups. One group is given placebo capsules and a placebo drink mix. The second group is given placebo capsules and the active drink mix. The third group is given active capsules and the active drink mix. The duration of the study is six months, and the data being recorded and measured includes the following:
- The percentage of subjects without a UTI recurrence.
- UTI frequency.
- The time between the recurrence of UTI.
- Subjective data on urinary health and quality of life.
The study participants all reside in the United States, and each was chosen based on meeting criteria, which includes being 18 years or older and having been treated with antibiotics for two urinary tract infections in the past two months.
Uqora’s second study is the George Washington University Urology Clincial Trial on Uqora and UTI Prevention. This study is being investigated by Dr. Michal Hsieh and aims to further demonstrate the efficacy of Uqora’s research products. At this point, the team has completed the planning stage and is working through the protocol development stage. Like the previously mentioned study, this will also be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using human subjects. Study subjects for the George Washington University study will also be women aged 18 and older. They must have no active UTI and have three instances of symptoms in the past year that resulted in a visit to their physician. They must also provide proof of these visits, with a minimum of one episode that needed to be culture confirmed.
We look forward to the data that this research will bring to light and the ways that it can help us improve the quality of life for the many women who struggle with UTIs.
Keep up with Uqora on Linkedin!