Dey, L.P. To Fund 2005 Nationwide COPD Patient Education Days Through National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA)
Posted on: Tuesday, 16 November 2004, 09:00 CST
NAPA, Calif., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Dey, L.P., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on prescription drug products for the treatment of selected respiratory diseases and allergies, will provide an unrestricted educational grant to the National Emphysema/COPD Association (NECA) to help fund a 2005 nationwide series of full-day patient educational symposia. Targeted to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their caregivers, the symposia will combine practical tips on living with COPD -- optimal nutrition, advances in treatment and medical devices, how to recognize the disease, best practices for minimizing exacerbations -- with up- to-date clinical and scientific information on the disease state.
Dey's commitment for 2005 is a continuation of its support of NECA in 2004; as part of the 2004 symposium series, a COPD/Alpha-1 Education Day was held in greater Boston on Saturday, 13 November (The Westin Waltham-Boston, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM). The Boston event was co- sponsored by NECA, Alpha-1 Foundation, Alpha-1 Association, AlphaNet, and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Admission was free and open to the public.
"We are proud to celebrate November as National COPD Awareness Month by continuing to support NECA in its important outreach to COPD patients and their families," said Ray Joske, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Business Development at Dey. "The event in the greater Boston area this past weekend was an informative and empowering day for patients, and we applaud the sponsors' efforts in presenting this educational session. Dey is committed to helping patients with COPD and other respiratory diseases live longer, healthier lives; NECA is a true partner in this effort."
Like the other events in this series of symposia, the Boston-area education day provided pragmatic advice to those living with COPD as well as a current snapshot of the most up-to-date research and public policy issues on the disease and its treatment. The day's speakers and roundtable panelists included patients, several distinguished researchers and clinicians from Brigham and Women's Hospital, and representatives of NECA and the other sponsoring patient advocacy organizations (Alpha-1 Foundation and Alpha-1 Association), which support detection of Alpha-1 and research towards a cure. Alpha-1 is a genetic abnormality that is implicated in disease, including certain types of COPD.
Barbara Rogers, President of NECA, noted: "Most significantly, I want to help COPD patients live better, longer lives. My hope is that our ongoing series of COPD/Alpha-1 Education Days will be a call to action and help raise awareness of this disease. Although COPD is a major killer, ranking 4th in the US in terms of annual deaths, victims of COPD too often suffer and die in obscurity, underdiagnosed and undertreated for a condition that strikes an estimated 36 million Americans.
"The education day in Boston would not have been possible without the distinguished researchers and clinicians who were gracious enough to speak. Their support helps us continue to bring COPD into the national consciousness, where this disease and its treatments can become more widely recognized."
About COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a number of slowly progressive but chronic lung disorders that obstruct the airways. The most common forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis or emphysema, or both. In chronic bronchitis, the airways in the lungs become partially clogged with mucus. Emphysema occurs when air sacs in the lungs become enlarged and damaged, preventing full exhalation and causing the surrounding airways to collapse. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US, with more than 12 million Americans currently diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 24 million additional persons suffering from it but undiagnosed. Although the disease has no cure, treatment plans can provide symptomatic relief and improve the quality of patients' lives.
About NECA
NECA is a patient-centered, member-driven, and member-governed organization. Its mission is to empower patients, families, and caregivers to improve the quality of patient care and the quality of their lives. NECA's primary objectives include:
-- Providing support, advocacy, networking, and education programs in
partnership with complementary organizations and
-- Promoting public awareness campaigns to increase research and improve
prevention, early detection, and care.
For more information about the COPD Resource Network, email Barbara Rogers, or visit http://www.necacommunity.org/.
About Dey, L.P.
Dey, L.P., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription drug products for the treatment of respiratory diseases and respiratory-related allergies. Dey manufactures DuoNeb(R), the only FDA-approved unit-dose dual inhalation therapy for patients with COPD. Since 1978, patients have benefited from Dey's commitment to innovative and affordable health care solutions. The Web sites for Dey include http://www.dey.com/, http://www.duoneb.com/, http://www.epipen.com/, and http://www.curosurfusa.com/. Dey is an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Important safety information
DuoNeb is indicated for the treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD for patients requiring more than one bronchodilator. In a 12-week clinical study, the most common adverse reactions reported with DuoNeb Inhalation Solution were chest pain, pharyngitis, diarrhea, bronchitis, nausea, and leg cramps. Albuterol sulfate can have a significant cardiovascular effect, significant hypokalemia, and the potential life-threatening paradoxical bronchospasm. Caution is advised in patients with convulsive disorders, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, or bladder-neck obstruction. Co-administration of DuoNeb Inhalation Solution and other sympathomimetic agents may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular effects.
Media contacts:
Dey, L.P. Media Line
1-800-755-5560 ext. 8363
or
Harriet Ullman
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
617-577-8110
Dey, L.P.
Contact: Media contacts: Dey, L.P. Media Line: 1-800-755-5560 ext. 8363,or Harriet Ullman of Feinstein Kean Healthcare, +1-617-577-8110
Web site: http://www.dey.com/http://www.duoneb.com/http://www.epipen.com/http://www.curosurfusa.com/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- New Tool to Predict The Risk of Death in COPD Could Help Physicians to Individualize Treatment
- Seventy Percent of Newly Diagnosed Alzheimer's Disease Patients Do Not Receive Treatment Within a Year of Diagnosis
- Idea to Arm Cancer Patients With Information Specific to Their Disease and Treatment Receives Nod, Grant From American Cancer Society
- AstraZeneca's Zactima to Earn Almost Five Percent Patient Share in the Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer By 2016
- MultiVu Video Feed: Emotional Burden of COPD - Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema - May Make Patients Reluctant to Seek Treatment, Survey Shows
- Emotional Burden of COPD - Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema - May Make Patients Reluctant to Seek Treatment, Survey Shows
- Hematide(TM) Shown in Phase 2 Trial to Stimulate Red Blood Cell Production in Patients With Anemia Due to Chronic Kidney Disease
- Study Finds Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Kidney Disease Go Undiagnosed
- Advances in Single-Patient Trials for Drug Treatment Optimization and Risk Management*
- TB Patients Have Access to Treatment in China's Less-Developedrural Areas
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds