Hartig Drug Company has expanded its product lineup by adding Nefense nasal care products at select locations in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, offering customers new drug-free options for daily nasal hygiene. The move brings together two companies with roots in Dubuque, Iowa, and reflects a shared commitment to community health and wellness.
Hartig Drug, founded in Dubuque in 1904, has served generations of families across the Tri-State Area. Nefense, developed in Dubuque by Richard Downs, DDS, is backed by over forty years of clinical expertise in oral health, breathing, and airway function. The addition of Nefense products represents a meaningful collaboration between two local entities, as noted by Charlie Hartig, CEO of Hartig Drug Company. “There is real meaning in this too: a Dubuque developed product line now on Hartig shelves, reaching the communities we serve together,” he said.
The Nefense products available at participating Hartig Drug stores include Hyponasal, a hypochlorous acid (HOCl) nasal spray for routine nasal cleansing; Hyponasal Junior, formulated for children; Hypobaby, an ultra-gentle option for infants and young children; and Xyloclean, a xylitol nasal spray designed to moisturize nasal passages. These products offer a non-medicated, steroid-free approach to daily nasal hygiene, helping to rinse away everyday dust, pollen, and airborne particles.
Hypochlorous acid is a natural component of human biology, produced by white blood cells as part of the body’s innate immune response. Published randomized clinical research has evaluated low-concentration hypochlorous acid nasal irrigation in people with chronic sinonasal symptoms and allergic rhinitis. While those studies were not of Nefense-branded products, they highlight the potential benefits of HOCl in nasal care.
Dr. F. Hunter Fuerste, a board-certified ophthalmologist in Dubuque, commented on the broader medical applications of HOCl: “I believe hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is still in its infancy in terms of its role in medicine, as more applications continue to be discovered. It is a gentle, nontoxic, naturally occurring molecule produced by white blood cells that has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Today, HOCl is being used in areas including skincare, wound care, eyelid hygiene for blepharitis, and oral rinses.”
For Hartig Drug, adding Nefense aligns with its long-standing focus on bringing health, wellness, and everyday consumer products to the communities it serves, including products developed by local and regional businesses. This addition also brings a locally developed health and wellness product from Dubuque into a pharmacy company that has called Dubuque home for more than 120 years.
Nefense products are available now at participating Hartig Drug locations. Customers can visit hartigdrug.com/stores to find a nearby Hartig Drug store and contact the location directly to confirm product availability. For more information about Nefense, visit nefense.com.
