Women First HealthCare Inc., a pharmaceutical firm for women aged 40-50, is exploring options to stave off a possible bankruptcy protection filing.

The San Diego-based company plans to shut down its As We Change, LLC mail order and Internet catalog business www.aswechange.com by March 31.

Options currently under consideration include selling the company or some or all of its products or license rights, restructuring its debt and raising new financing.

The company has retained Miller Buckfire Lewis Ying & Co., LLC as its exclusive financial advisor to assist in these efforts. It is currently negotiating with suppliers seeking possible debt forbearance agreements from suppliers.

The firm estimates its net revenues for the full year 2003 at between $9.5 million and $10.5 million as compared to net revenues of $48.6 million for the same period in 2002.

The company attributed these results primarily to inadequate product distribution and declining prescription demand for the majority of its products.

Women First HealthCare Inc., a pharmaceutical firm for women aged 40-50, is exploring options to stave off a possible bankruptcy protection filing.

The San Diego-based company plans to shut down its As We Change, LLC mail order and Internet catalog business www.aswechange.com by March 31.

Options currently under consideration include selling the company or some or all of its products or license rights, restructuring its debt and raising new financing.

The company has retained Miller Buckfire Lewis Ying & Co., LLC as its exclusive financial advisor to assist in these efforts. It is currently negotiating with suppliers seeking possible debt forbearance agreements from suppliers.

The firm estimates its net revenues for the full year 2003 at between $9.5 million and $10.5 million as compared to net revenues of $48.6 million for the same period in 2002.

The company attributed these results primarily to inadequate product distribution and declining prescription demand for the majority of its products.