DATELINE:
KANSAS CITY, Mo (1997)
Against
the backdrop of a nationwide survey that shows people with multiple sclerosis
(MS) want more emotional understanding and practical support to help them cope
with the demands of living with a chronic disease, Teva Marion Partners
announced that all persons taking its newly available MS drug COPAXONEŽ
(glatiramer acetate for injection) will have free telephone access to a nurse
counselor.
The nurse
counselors will be a centerpiece of Teva Marion Partners' Shared Solutions
program, a unique patient support initiative that, in addition to personal
nurse counselors, offers access to the collective knowledge of experts in the
management of multiple sclerosis together with reimbursement assistance, a home
delivery option to receive COPAXONEŽ, and tailored informational materials.
People
taking COPAXONEŽ can telephone their nurse counselor for assistance in
addressing product, clinical, educational, economic and social questions and
needs. The specially trained nurse counselors will serve as a central source to
either provide information directly or refer the individual to appropriate
sources, including referral to a specialist who can help with insurance
reimbursement needs, therapists, neurologists and people with MS.
"We
believe we are the first company to offer people with MS such a comprehensive
array of disease-management services. Helping people manage multiple sclerosis
involves much more than just medication or providing a 1-800 number," said
John Vandewalle, M.D., chief executive officer of Teva Marion Partners.
"Teva
Marion Partners has worked closely with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
to develop a unique program that gives people with MS and their families
useful, pragmatic assistance to meet the far-reaching physical, financial,
emotional and social aspects of the disease," Vandewalle said.
"Individuals
taking COPAXONEŽ (glatiramer acetate for injection) will be able to call the
same nurse counselor each time. Our goal is for them to view their nurse
counselor as a friend they can talk to, as well as a professional who can point
them in the right direction for local or national services, resources and assistance,"
Vandewalle added.
Another
unique aspect of Shared Solutions is that the nurse counselors will
periodically call the individuals to see how they are doing and offer other
assistance as needed.
People
taking COPAXONEŽ, as well as anyone with multiple sclerosis, can sign up
through Shared Solutions to receive quarterly newsletters, informational
brochures and other literature to help them better deal with physical, social,
emotional and other aspects of managing the disease.
Other
services of Shared Solutions offered to COPAXONEŽ patients include:
People
interested in receiving information about Shared Solutions and COPAXONEŽ may
call 1-800-887-8100 or visit Teva Marion Partners' web site at www.tevamarionpartners.com.
Learn
about the Caremark Pharmaceutical Service and Reimbursement Assistance
Program for people with MS.
(glatiramer acetate for injection)
Due to
Teva Marion Partners' commitment to customer focus and product innovation, we
are pleased to introduce new storage conditions for COPAXONEŽ.
Now your
COPAXONEŽ should be stored in the refrigerator at temperatures of 36°F to 46°F
(2°C to 8°C). When refrigeration is unavailable, COPAXONEŽ can be kept at room
temperature (1 5°C to 30°C/ 59°F to 86°F) for 7 days. COPAXONEŽ should not be
exposed to high temperatures such as those found in a glove compartment or in
direct sunlight.
As a
result of Teva Marion Partners' promise to communicate product innovations as
quickly as possible, you may receive product that is labeled frozen. This
product can be kept refrigerated or at room temperature for up to 7 days, when
a refrigerator is unavailable. We anticipate COPAXONEŽ vials reflecting this
new labeling in the near future.
If you
have any questions about COPAXONEŽ and the new storage conditions please call
Shared Solutions at 1-800-887-8100.
Dateline
Jerusalem - October 5,1997
"A
fourth drug designed to reduce the severity and frequency of the most common
type of multiple sclerosis has been added to the arsenal of neurologists."
"Phase
III clinical trial results by Ares-Serono of Switzerland after being developed
by Professor Michael Ravel of the Weizman Institute in Rehovot were presented
Tuesday at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Neurological in San Diego,
Calif."
"The
drug is the second for multiple sclerosis to be developed in Israel. The
placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted in 22 centers in nine
other countries. It was the largest study of its kind to investigate a
treatment for RELAPSING-REMITTING MS, a form of the neurological disease that
recurs and causes an accumulation of problems. More than a million people
worldwide suffer from the illness which tends to develop between the ages of 20
and 40. Although there is no cure, a number of treatments have been developed
in recent years to reduce the severity and frequency of attacks to allow more
normal functioning." We thank Judy Siegal of the Jerusalem Post.