Advanced Medical Institute Inc. Offers Men With Spinal Cord Injuries a New Lease on Their Sex Lives

SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Medical Institute Inc. (AVMD.PK or AMI), a leading provider of treatment for Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation in Australasia, announces a new not for profit division -- Rocket Launch (www.rocketlaunch.com.au) - which specialises in providing Erectile Dysfunction advice and treatment programs to men who have sustained a spinal cord injury.

Rocket Launch's trial group of 60 patients delivered a remarkable 100% success rate with all patients capable of gaining and maintaining an erection. With the huge success of their trial, Rocket Launch now plans to reach out to the more than 6,000 men in Australia who have sustained a spinal cord injury. Rocket Launch also hopes to assist spinal cord rehabilitation units in hospitals across the country to improve the quality of patient outcomes.

AMI's Medical Director and one of Australia's leading urologists, Dr. Lionel Jacobs, explains the reasons for Rocket Launch's efficacy: "There are a number of medications used by Rocket Launch. These include a method of Nasal Delivery which allows the medication to rapidly and directly enter the patient's bloodstream. This makes the treatment extremely effective and enables a low dosage medication to be utilised. This treatment is also safe for use with most other medications including nitrate-based drugs, which many spinal cord injured patients are prescribed."

The treatment is offered to men with spinal cord injuries without any initial charge, payment only being requested once the patient has reported success in achieving an erection and wishes to continue with a treatment program with any ongoing charge being on a below cost basis. The work being done is changing the lives of spinal cord injured men who are finding part of their identity and self-esteem is being returned to them by enabling them to be sexually active.

"By establishing Rocket Launch we are seeking to improve the sexual health and quality of life for men who have sustained a spinal cord injury and their partners, a disadvantaged group in our community," said AMI Chairman and CEO, Dr. Jack Vaisman.

A survey conducted by the Reeve-Irvine Research Centre at the University of California during 2004 found that paraplegics ranked regaining sexual function as their highest priority and quadriplegics ranking it as their second highest priority after regaining arm movement. In each case, these groups ranked regaining sexual function ahead of other important issues including improving bladder/bowel functions, trunk stability, walking movement and chronic pain.

Susie Clarkson, Director of Patient Care says: "Throughout my nursing career I have found that patients with spinal cord injuries see sexual function as a vital part of their rehabilitation from their accidents. The message we get from our Rocket Launch patients and their partners is loud and clear... sex is important to them and Rocket Launch is a blessing. The establishment of Rocket Launch is intended to enable men with spinal cord injuries and their partners to enjoy an aspect of their relationship which most able bodied couples take for granted. We are pleased with the preliminary feed-back from our patients and their partners, some of whom have agreed to be public spokespeople for our program."

Helen O'Brien, Rocket Launch's Director of Operations explains, "We designed the service to ensure ease of access and affordability for all spinal cord injured men in Australia. Word is spreading about www.rocketlaunch.com.au and we have an ongoing commitment to improving the sexual health, empowerment, dignity and happiness for those who have sustained a spinal cord injury."

The establishment and operation of Rocket Launch has been solely funded by AMI, however Rocket Launch has been extremely fortunate to have received support from, and would like to thank, many of Australia's leading media organisations including Austereo, A.R.N., Regional Radioworks and The Radio Sales Network.