Pharmaceutical Innovation News

Partnership for Prescription Assistance Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary and Launch of 'PPA 2.0'

2010-04-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

In an effort to help even more Americans who are uninsured and struggling financially, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) recently launched new online resources designed to expand the program's outreach. "PPA 2.0," an evolution of the nationwide effort sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, was unveiled here during a celebration of the PPA's five-year anniversary.

"PPA 2.0" introduces new online resources that expand community partnerships and enhance PPA's mobile and Internet presence to make it even easier to obtain information about PPA programs. In an effort to reach more people in more places, PPA is launching a new text hotline and smart phone application, in addition to the existing toll-free hotline and Web site, to ensure around-the-clock access to information about the more than 475 programs offered through the PPA. Nearly 200 of the programs are provided by pharmaceutical companies.

PhRMA Helps Launch ‘Healthy Generation’ Initiative

2010-04-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), along with a diverse group of stakeholders, have partnered with the Washington Health Foundation (WHF) to unveil a new initiative that will help educate college students in Washington state about the proper use of medicines and provide resources to help prevent the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter products.

Recent reports suggest that prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines are being misused at alarming rates. Friends, family members and even celebrities have undoubtedly been touched by this disturbing trend in one way or another. For this reason, Healthy Generation will be utilizing social networks and community advocacy resources, as well as providing training activities on college campuses, so that students have the tools they need to engage in healthy behaviors while also getting the support they need to help themselves or their friends.

WHF Prescription Drug Abuse 4x3 from Healthiest State on Vimeo.

'Sharing Miracles' to Feature Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona

2010-04-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

Two-time World Series champion Terry Francona will be featured on April's episode of Sharing Miracles.

Francona – widely credited with breaking "the curse of the Bambino" in his first year in Boston – has led the Red Sox to World Series victory twice since being named manager in 2004, making him the first manager to ever win his first eight games in the Series. He now boasts the second-most wins of any manager in franchise history.

In this month's Sharing Miracles, he talks about life with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and chronic knee problems. "I've had my share of health issues and I know that I'm fortunate to be here," he acknowledges. "I was a little bit dumb and a little bit more than stubborn to have gotten on that plane and waited to go to the hospital, but fortunately I was young enough and strong enough to fight that initial embolism."

Major Diseases Being Addressed With Over 230 Medicines in Development for Children

2010-03-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are developing 234 medicines for the special health care needs of children, according to a new report released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

“Our researchers, who lead the world in pharmaceutical innovation, are working on new treatments to fight a wide range of major diseases and medical disorders that afflict children all over America,” said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. “Our companies’ targets include childhood cancer, the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 5 and 24, and an array of genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis, a debilitating and fatal condition that affects 30,000 children and adults in the United States.”

The new Medicines in Development for Children report was unveiled today at Trinity Moline by PhRMA Senior Vice President Ken Johnson. He stressed that biopharmaceutical research companies are key contributors to today’s steady progress against childhood diseases.

Today, because of major treatment advances, 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer will survive five years or longer, compared to a five-year survival rate of less than 50 percent 30 years ago. Progress has also been made against childhood pneumonia.

According to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine, pneumonia deaths among children dropped 97 percent between 1939 and 1996, thanks in part to antibiotics that prevent deaths from not only pneumonia, but also scarlet fever and other diseases that used to claim the lives of children.

Read more

Scientists Honored With Discoverers Award for Development of Innovative HIV Medicine

2010-03-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Three scientists who led the 11-year quest to develop a groundbreaking HIV drug received the 2010 Discoverers Award -- the highest honor given to scientists by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The honorees are Tony Wood, Ph.D., Elna van der Ryst, M.D., Ph.D. and Manos Perros, Ph.D.

PhRMA's Discoverers Award recognizes scientists whose work has greatly benefited mankind.

"These extraordinary honorees not only have saved untold numbers of lives, but have also improved the quality of lives for many HIV patients," said Billy Tauzin. "All three devoted a significant portion of their lives to developing this medicine. We are proud to pay tribute to their skills and to their perseverance as they overcame huge obstacles."

See Virus Weekly for more information on the award and honorees

'Sharing Miracles' Television Program to Feature Professional Basketball Legend Alonzo Mourning

2010-02-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

According to the Washington Business Journal, Basketball great Alonzo Mourning will be featured on February's episode of Sharing Miracles. Mourning was one of the top professional basketball players of his era, a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, when he was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a rare and life-threatening genetic kidney disease.

In this month's episode, he discusses his surprise upon receiving his diagnosis: "I was shocked when they told me. I was looked at as the picture of health. As a professional athlete, I was always praised because I kept myself in great condition. I had always relied on my strength because I was an under-sized center. I never imagined I would get sick."

New hope for treating mental illness

2010-02-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

The Cherokee Chronicle Times reports on a newly released report that shows a record 301 medicines are currently being developed in the U.S. to help ease the devastating impact that mental illnesses have on patients, their families and society.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) says the new medicines being developed hold the promise of providing patients and doctors with more and better treatment options.

In addition to developing new medicines, American pharmaceutical research companies say they've made strides in helping uninsured and underinsured patients gain access to the medicines they need through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)

America's Pharmaceutical Research Companies Donate $20 Million to Relief Efforts in Haiti; More Help Coming

2010-01-20T14:02:00.000-08:00

As the need for health care assistance mounts in Haiti after last week's catastrophic earthquake, America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies continue to provide help. So far, more than $20 million in medicines, medical supplies and cash have been committed to relief efforts -- and that amount is still growing. The total does not include the contributions of PhRMA member company employees and the many companies committed to matching the pledges of their workers.

PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said: "The day the news broke about the tragedy in Haiti, America's biopharmaceutical companies got to work -- coordinating efforts with relief organizations and health care groups already on the ground -- making sure everything from simple antibiotic creams to critical medicines were made accessible to victims. And the more the need for medicinal aid is defined, the more our companies are providing it."

PhRMA is also involved in the Haitian effort through the Rx Response program. This program, which was developed following Hurricane Katrina, has shed light on the most effective methods to donate medical products and the most efficient ways medical professionals can volunteer for the Haiti response effort.

"The vital role of PhRMA companies and their employees in the global community is clearly defined by such catastrophic situations. It's our civic responsibility to provide health care professionals the tools they need to help save lives, and we're proud to take part in this effort, which will lead to the eventual recovery of Haiti," Tauzin said.

'Sharing Miracles' to Feature MLB Star Aaron Boone

2010-01-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

Major League Baseball slugger Aaron Boone will be featured on January's episode of Sharing Miracles.

A member of one of only three families in history to have three generations play in the major leagues (grandfather Ray, father Bob and brother Bret all played pro baseball), Boone is best known for an eleventh-inning, game-winning home run in the seventh game of the 2003 American League Championship Series. Clinching the series for the New York Yankees over the Boston Red Sox, Boone is said to have extended the "Curse of the Bambino" by one more year. Discussing Boone's famed home run on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles are Red Sox manager Terry Francona and four-time World Series champion Darryl Strawberry.

However, despite his notoriety for the home run, Boone says the at-bat most meaningful to him is one that almost never happened - his first time at home plate following open-heart surgery.

While in college, Boone was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart defect that required yearly check-ups, but no treatment. "Throughout my baseball career, I got it checked on every off-season, but it frankly wasn't a huge part of my life," he says.

However, that all changed in March 2009, when his cardiologist advised additional tests and a consultation with a surgeon. The decision was sobering, with Boone being told he needed open-heart surgery to correct his defect.

After successfully undergoing the procedure, however, he focused on his recovery and rehabilitation and eventually realized that he was strong enough to consider a return to the sport: "I could see my body respond each day, each week, each month. Seeing myself improve really helped push me further and helped me do the necessary things to keep getting better."

New diabetes drugs detailed at Brooklyn hospital

2009-12-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) release a report detailing 183 new medicines which are currently in human clinical trials and awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a record number of potentially life-changing drugs.

This is great news, particularly for those in Brooklyn who are coping with diabetes, Nabe News reports.

“This killer thrives in communities like ours, where poverty and fast food are prevalent,” said Dr. Richard Becker, president and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center, 121 Dekalb Avenue, where the report was released Dec. 7. Brooklyn’s diabetes rate is the second highest in the five boroughs, Becker noted.

Rep. Edolphus Towns, who has managed his own diabetes for decades, was on hand for the announcement, as was his son, Assembly member Darryl Towns.“Developing new drugs to treat diabetes here in New York City will help address one of the major diseases affecting our community,” the elder lawmaker said in a statement.

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. The cause of the disease is unknown.

An important contributing factor to diabetes is lifestyle, including obesity. Adults who have diabetes are 40 percent more likely to be overweight than those who do not, according to the Public Health Association of New York City. A report released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that obesity affects 24.7 percent of Brooklyn’s adults, or 449,900 people.

According to PhRMA, drugs in the development stage include: a first-in-class medicine that significantly improves long-term blood sugar control and targets the dysfunction of pancreas cells, a dysfunction that causes high sugar level in type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease where either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin; a medicine that addresses the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes by modulating genes responsible for insulin sensitization; and a medicine that stimulates the release of insulin only when glucose levels become too high and by suppressing appetite in patients with type 2 diabetes.

“The medicines now in the research pipelines are contributing significantly to the incredible progress made by America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in developing new treatments for diabetes and related conditions,” said PhRMA vice president for communications and public affairs Ed Belkin.

“People with a s

ignificant family history would benefit from being put on medication to prevent diabetes, even before they are diabetic,” he said.

Warman pointed to Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as companies with particularly promising drugs in their pipelines.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Companies Developing 97 New Drugs and Vaccines to Fight HIV/AIDS

2009-12-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) published a report that identifies 97 new drugs and vaccines in development for HIV/AIDS and related conditions.

Chemistry World highlighted the report and the Los Angeles Chronicle covered it.

The report found that the 97 products in development include 23 vaccines and 54 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"We are greatly encouraged by these critically important medicines and vaccines in development to treat and prevent HIV infection," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "Pharmaceutical researchers are continuing their efforts to develop new therapies and vaccines to improve and lengthen the lives of HIV-infected patients."

"As a result of HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," stated Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future."

'Sharing Miracles' to Feature Tedy Bruschi

2009-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi, a former Pro-Bowl linebacker with the New England Patriots, will be featured on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles.

Bruschi suffered a debilitating stroke in February 2005.

In this month's episode of Sharing Miracles, he discusses his experience: "Obviously, I never expected to suffer from a stroke. I was 31 years old and had just experienced the best season of my career. I had been home from the Pro Bowl for a day-and-a-half when I woke up in the middle of the night experiencing stroke-like symptoms."

Eventually, he was diagnosed not just with a stroke, but also with a patent foramen ovale, or a congenital defect that leaves a tiny, potentially life-threatening hole in the heart. Bruschi was paralyzed, with partial loss of vision, and was facing surgery to repair the hole in his heart.

In October 2005, just eight months after suffering a stroke, Bruschi returned to football, winning honors as Comeback Player of the Year.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/sharing-miracles-television-program-to,1071334.shtml

Help is Here Bus in Carrollton, GA

2009-11-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

The Help is Here Bus was at Tanner's Heart and Vascular Center in Carrollton, GA Thursday.

According to the Times Georgian, a line of people sat on folding chairs in the parking lot waiting their turn to find out if they were eligible to receive help paying for their prescriptions.

The program has helped more than 251,000 Georgians find out if they qualify for free or discounted medicines.

Prescription drug bus to roll into midstate

2009-11-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, will visit the Macon Volunteer Clinic, in Macon, GA, on Wednesday, November 11.

The Macon Telegraph says, "The aim is to help lower-income people and the uninsured find out if they qualify for free medicine."

Valerie Biskey, the clinic's executive director and a Registered Nurse, says, "It doesn't do us any good to have a free clinic like we do here in Macon and then have the doctor say, 'OK, the only way I can treat your diabetes is to use a medicine that is, say, $100 a vial.' ... When you're on minimum wage, the first thing you say is, 'I've got to feed my family, or I need to eat or I have to put gas in my car. So guess what I'm gonna choose.' So they'll try to talk you out of the drug. And then you'll say, 'You don't have to talk us out of it because we're gonna get it for you free.'"

Sharing Miracles to Feature Joe Torre

2009-10-30T13:11:00.001-07:00

Two-time Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Joe Torre, will be featured on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles. Torre was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999.

"I was just devasted," Torre says in the episode. "It was like being in a black hole. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. My daughter was three at the time, and I was afraid that I wouldn't be there for her when she was growing up."

Torre's battle with the disease was successful and he remains cancer-free today.

"The important thing to realize about prostate cancer is that you can control it. If you can't cure it, you can control it, and you can live with it. Here I am, still managing 10 years after the surgery and still having a lot of fun and living a normal life."

Prescription Assistance Bus Makes Stops in MD

2009-10-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus stopped at the Tri-State Community Health Center in Hancock, MD and the Community Free Clinic in Hagerstown, MD on Friday helping more than 60 people learn how to get their prescriptions free or nearly free.

The Herald-Mail reports that at both locations, staff invited patients aboard the orange bus and asked them questions about their prescription medicines, income and current coverage to generate a list of assistance programs that could help them.

The need for prescription assistance was evident immediately during the tour's stop in Hagerstown, said Kaelan Hollon, spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "We had people waiting for us before we even pulled in," she said.

PPA Helps 6 Millionth Person

2009-10-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance announced today that after visiting more than 3,000 cities in all 50 states, they reached a historic milestone by helping the six millionth person at an event in Harrisburg, PA.

"At a time when national unemployment is the highest in almost two decades, the PPA has become an important lifeline for a growing number of patients," PhRMA's Ken Johnson said. "Millions of Americans have been added to the jobless rolls over the last several months and there could be a sharp increase in the number of people losing health care benefits.''

The PPA "Help is Here Express" bus tour stopped at the Capitol Building Complex on Commonwealth Avenue in Harrisburg, joined by Super Bowl-winning running back, likely Hall-of-Famer and asthma patient Jerome Bettis.

"With the number of people affected by chronic disease increasing every year, and economists predicting that unemployment will continue to grow well into 2009, the PPA and its message of hope are now more relevant than ever," PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said. "No one - and I mean no one - is helped by a medicine that sits on the shelf and is out of reach financially. In Pennsylvania, we will continue to help folks all over the state for as long as our assistance is needed."

Hoosiers Seek Prescription Help

2009-10-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

The “Help is Here Express” rolled into Indiana this week and once again provided much needed support to area residents, including Kim Froehle’s 24 year old son who is on disability and currently paying about $1,200 a month for his prescriptions.

“Her son is going to be able to get his medications for free or nearly free,” Kaelan Hollon, Communications Director for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, told 14 News.

So far the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has helped over 200,000 Hoosiers and six million people nationwide.

The 'Beav' spends time in IL

2009-10-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

Jerry Mathers and the PPA bus were all over Illinois this week with stops at the Community Health Improvement Center and the Danville Public Library.

Mathers said he is inspired by the hope the program is able to offer to those with chronic illnesses who lack health insurance and can't afford their medications. In the case of diabetes, the partnership is sometimes able to help people obtain vital testing supplies at a reduced cost, he said.Mathers and the PPA bus also made a stop at the Danville Public Library. --The Herald-Review

Jeff Gilbert, spokesperson for PPA, said during their stop in Danville on Thursday afternoon, they signed up about a dozen people who likely will qualify for prescription assistance through PPA, a free, confidential program based in Washington and sponsored by pharmaceutical research companies. It provides a single point of access to information on 475 public and private patient assistance programs to help match people with the medication they need. --The News-Gazette

Pink October

2009-10-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Toledo Journal ran a nice article about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the hope for a better treatment or cure for the disease.

"For all women, breast cancer awareness month should serve as a reminder to keep up with monthly self-examinations and to visit your doctor for regular mammograms to help promote early detection. Mammograms – an x-ray picture of the breast – are the best way to find out if you have breast cancer because they can show cancer when it’s too small for you or your doctor to feel."

A recent survey by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America found that pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are testing a record 861 new cancer medicines and vaccines, including 112 for breast cancer.

Those who need help accessing their prescription medicines can turn to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which has helped connect nearly 6 million patients in need.

Mathers to Discuss Diabetes in IL

2009-10-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Jerry Mathers, a classic TV icon, will be in Danville, Illinois this week in support of an effort to help prescription medicine become available for more people. He is traveling with the "Help is Here Express" bus tour, which will be at the Danville Public Library from 204 p.m. on Thursday.

Mathers suffers from diabetes and is traveling with the PPA bus to raise awareness of this chronic disease.

PPA in Pennsylvania

2009-10-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Paul T. Anthony's column in The Times-Tribune explains the benefits of the PhRMA's PPA bus and how it is the one place where "struggling area residents can look for help getting the medicines they need."

According to the column, with one in 10 workers now jobless in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and Pennsylvania's unemployment rate nearly double what it was two years ago, many residents are finding it hard to make ends meet, particularly the 7.7 million people with chronic conditions that require expensive prescription medicines.

PPA in Muskogee, OK

2009-10-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

The PPA bus continued in Oklahoma this week with a stop in Muskogee. The Muskogee Phoenix reports on how the bus helped one man who had to chose between paying for his prescriptions or keeping his house.

“I’ve never used this before,” Robbie Weeks said. “A friend of mine told me about it. It took about five to 10 minutes to get the applications. The three I had to take were over $150 each.”

Weeks said the PPA bus offers a much-needed service.

“It’s great,” he said. “A lot of people need help but can’t get it.”

Jerry Mathers in Iowa

2009-10-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Jerry Mathers, the "Beaver" on the 1950s sitcom "Leave it to Beaver" will be in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Iowa City and Burlington on October 13 to bring attention to patient assistance programs that help the uninsured. He is also expected to talk about the need to effectively address the rising rates of chronic disease.

Mathers is traveling with the Partnership for Prescription Assistanc e (PPA) bus.

PPA visits Tulsa

2009-10-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus was in Tulsa, OK yesterday helping the people of Green County, Oklahoma. The PPA bus is equip with software that accesses 475 public and private assistance programs for the uninsured or the under-insured.

Marla Carter of KJRH channel 2 reported.

Sharing Miracles to Feature John Kruk

2009-10-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

Three-time MLB All-Star John Kruk will be featured on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles. Kruk was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1981 and was traded to the Phillies in 1989, where he spent most of his career.

Kruk was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1993. He returned to baseball before the radiation was even complete, appearing in the Phillies' home opener of the 1994 season.

"In my first at-bat, I hit a double and was standing at second base to a long standing ovation. It was unbelievable. I'd never experienced anything like that before," Kurk says on Sharing Miracles.

Kruk retired from baseball in 1995. He is now a critically-acclaimed baseball analyst for ESPN.

David Brennan in Cleveland

2009-10-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

David Brennan, chief executive of AstraZeneca and chairman of The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactureers of America, will be speaking today at the Medical Innovation Summit in Cleveland. According to the Times Online, he is expected to call for a better-funded, more powerful American drugs regulator to speed up the approval of new treatments and to increase confidence in the industry.

Darryl Strawberry Attends PhRMA Buffalo Event

2009-09-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

According to the Buffalo News, Darryl Strawberry attended PhRMA's recent event at the Hauptman-Woodward Institute on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Strawberry, a former baseball player, battled colon cancer. He spoke on the importance of regular colon cancer screening.

"I was running around the field in 1998 with a tumor in me the size of a grapfruit and didn't know it," he said.

The Buffalo event highlighted new medicines in development as well as publicized a report on 680 new medicines in development by biotechnology companies in New York State.

Ken Johnson, a senior vice president, said the pharmaceutical industry has committeed to helping the federal government save $80 billion over 10 years.