Economically Disadvantaged Asthma Sufferers Breathe Easier with FREE ProAir® HFA Donation by Teva to Direct Relief International
NORTH WALES, Pa. (January 15, 2009) As part of a transition to new, environmentally friendly inhalers, Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has donated several hundred thousand ProAir® HFA (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol fast-relief albuterol-metered dose inhalers (MDIs) to Direct Relief International, a nonprofit humanitarian medical relief organization, for its Charitable Medicine Access Program. Direct Relief International will distribute the new inhalers to economically disadvantaged patients through the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC).
Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals' collaboration with NACHC, NAFC and Direct Relief International will ensure that patients have access to their medicine, particularly those without insurance, while also providing an opportunity to educate them about other important changes accompanying the Environmental Protection Agency/Food Drug Administration-mandated switch to HFA albuterol inhalers. Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals estimates that the donation will benefit approximately 500,000 people during this transition.
"We have invested significant resources in managed care access, discount cards and patient assistance programs. We recognize, however, that there is still a segment of the population that might find it difficult to get HFA inhalers during this transition," said Mark Salyer, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals. "Our collaboration with NACHC, NAFC and Direct Relief International will ensure that these patients have continued access to rescue inhalers—a critical part of comprehensive treatment plans for asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - while also educating them about how to best use their new inhalers."
The U.S. FDA/EPA set December 31, 2008, as the deadline for phasing out albuterol inhalers containing ozone-depleting CFC-based propellants and replacing them with environmentally friendly propellants known as HFAs. Asthma patients should understand that the switch to the new HFA products comes with a number of differences, including taste, feel and the need for regular cleaning, along with potentially higher out-of-pocket costs for the patient.
Direct Relief International created its Charitable Medicines Access Program as an initiative to enhance patient care for low-income, uninsured patients at medical homes. Since the program's inception, Direct Relief International has provided U.S. clinics with 3,000 shipments of medicine and supplies valued at $125 million. These shipments contained more than 6 million prescriptions and more than $5 million in cash assistance.
"Direct Relief International's Charitable Medicines Access Program uses product distribution to improve patient access and knowledge about necessary medical prescriptions," said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief International. "By distributing HFA inhalers in collaboration with Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Direct Relief can help thousands of economically disadvantaged patients across the country have the life-saving asthma medications that they need. We are especially pleased to work with NACHC on this effort. Their support in identifying health clinics around the country is critical for the delivery of these products to patients with the most needs."
In addition to its collaboration with NACHC, NAFC and Direct Relief International, Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals has developed a comprehensive array of patient assistance programs to ease the financial burden to patients. These programs are available through physicians and pharmacists, or by visiting http://www.proairhfa.com or www.switch2hfa.com.
ProAir® HFA (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol is indicated in patients 4 years of age and older for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm with reversible obstructive airway disease and for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
Important Safety Information
If your symptoms become significantly worse when you use ProAir® HFA, contact your doctor immediately. This may indicate either a worsening of your asthma or a reaction to the medication, which may rarely occur with the first use of a new canister of ProAir® HFA. Either of these could be life-threatening.
What to tell your doctor before using ProAir® HFA: If you have a heart, blood, or seizure disorder, high blood pressure, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid, be sure to tell your doctor. Also make sure your doctor knows all medications you are taking - especially heart medications and drugs that treat depression—because some medications may interfere with how well your asthma medications work. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Side effects associated with ProAir® HFA include headache, rapid heart beat, pain, dizziness, and irritation of the throat and nose.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
About Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara–based nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief works in 59 countries and has delivered more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian medical aid to health professionals serving impoverished communities since 2000. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for five consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California's largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.
About the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
To address the widespread lack of access to basic health care, Community Health Centers serve 18 million people at more than 7,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. Health centers depend in large part on public financial help and need a unified voice and common source for research, information, training and advocacy. To address these needs, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) organized in 1971. NACHC works with a network of state health center and primary care organizations to serve health centers in a variety of ways, including to provide research-based advocacy for health centers and their clients; educate the public about the mission and value of health centers; train and provide technical assistance to health center staff and boards; and develop alliances with private partners and key stakeholders to foster the delivery of primary health care services to communities in need. For more information, please visit www.NACHC.org.
About the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC)
NAFC is the only national nonprofit whose mission is solely focused on the needs of free clinics and the populations they serve. Founded in 2001 by Free Clinic leaders from across the country, the NAFC supports community-based, nonprofit, volunteer-supported Free Clinics serving the uninsured and underinsured. The leadership of the NAFC focuses on bringing advocacy, networking, and needed resources to free clinics to help them face their many challenges. The NAFC estimates that Free Clinics raise over $300 million per year in private funds, which are used to provide care for approximately 3.5 million uninsured and underinsured patients, and generate $3 billion in health care services.
About Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals-USA is the U.S.-based respiratory division of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., headquartered in Israel, is among the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world and is the leading generic pharmaceutical company. The company develops, manufactures and markets generic and innovative human pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Over 80 percent of Teva's sales are in North America and Europe.
Please visit http://www.proairhfa.com/pdf/ProAirPrescribingInformation.pdf for additional important information for ProAir® HFA.
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