If consumer healthcare company F.A.S.T. gets its way, many of us will be doing shots not at our local watering holes, but at our local pharmacies.
First Aid Shot Therapy, Inc. (F.A.S.T.) has just received Series-A financing for its liquid therapy products from a round of capitalists led by Sofinnova Ventures. If all goes according to plan, the company will start serving up liquid therapy "shots" in your local pharmacy this summer.
These aren't the types of shots that you do for existential pain; for that, you'll have to stick with tequila. However, you could take a liquid therapy shot from F.A.S.T. for conditions like pain or upset stomach.
F.A.S.T. is the vision of Professor Jay Parischa, M.D., a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins, and company founder and CEO Mary Page Platerink. In addition, the company employs some of the executives behind successful products like Vitamin Water and Pretzel Crisps.
According to pharmacist Dennis Bryan of WBC Pharmacies, Inc., in Chicago, the human body absorbs liquid medications slightly faster than liqui-gels, chewable tablets, capsules or hard tablets. This happens because your stomach and intestines don't have to work much to break down the liquid.
However, Bryan notes that you won't get much of a speed advantage if you drink your liquid therapy shot on a full stomach. Just as it does with an alcohol shot, the good stuff will get into your bloodstream more slowly.
The shots measure 1.35 fluid ounces, or 40 milliliters, which is pretty close to the volume of liquid you can put in a shot glass. The product, however, comes in miniature cans that are color-coded according to your ailment. Pain shots are red, for example, while upset stomach shots are green.
F.A.S.T.'s liquid therapy shots will be available over the counter. "Since our seed round of funding, we have developed our launch products, set our go-to-market strategy and built a world-class team," said Platerink. "We look forward to launching our products this summer with leading retailers."
Edited by
Alisen Downey
