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InfoMedics Reports Progress in Patient Feedback Program for Ferring Pharmaceuticals' Osteoarthritis Treatment, EUFLEXXA(TM)

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 January 2008, 09:00 CST

InfoMedics, Inc., the patient feedback company, today announced interim results of a program the company is running with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to measure patients' perceptions about their experiences with EUFLEXXA™, an intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) for the relief of pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA).

"Our programs provide prescribing physicians with first-hand feedback -- good and bad -- about how well a treatment is working for their patients," said Gene Guselli, CEO of InfoMedics. "By providing a mechanism for this type of unvarnished feedback directly to physicians, Ferring is demonstrating that its primary concern is improving the well-being and quality of life of patients with OA pain."

In Ferring's ongoing prospective study, 1,261 physicians gave survey materials to their patients eligible for EUFLEXXA. Patients voluntarily participated in a voice-response telephone survey about their condition at baseline, after three months, and after six months. A total of 161 patients (mean age 65) completed all three surveys. The surveys were conducted by InfoMedics and each patient's results were confidentially communicated directly to the prescribing physician in an easy-to-read, graphical report. This program allows physicians to see first-hand, from their own patients, the effectiveness of EUFLEXXA™ treatments.

"While we had evidence that EUFLEXXA was effective from a clinical standpoint, we realized that patients' perception of pain is possibly the most important factor when dealing with OA disease," said Erol Onel, M.D., Director of Medical Affairs at Ferring. "InfoMedics has enabled us to provide physicians with complete, credible information to help make treatment decisions and improve patient care"

The study demonstrated that, based on patients' perceptions, EUFLEXXA is effective in reducing the amount that knee OA pain interferes with patients' activities of daily living (ADLs) and social/leisure activities, for up to six months. Ferring presented the study results at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International's World Congress on Osteoarthritis 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale, held December 6-9.

Patients receiving EUFLEXXA reported a decrease in the amount that their knee pain interfered with their ADLs, with a mean baseline score of 5.8 (range of 0 - 10=interferes very much), decreasing to 3.7 at three months and maintaining at 3.9 at six months. Patients receiving EUFLEXXA also reported a decrease in the amount that their knee pain interfered with their social and leisure activities, with a mean baseline score of 5.6, decreasing to 3.6 at three months and maintaining at 3.7 at six months.

About EUFLEXXA™

EUFLEXXA(TM) (1% sodium hyaluronate) is the first and only non-avian derived hyaluronic acid approved in the U.S. for the treatment of pain caused by knee osteoarthritis and is indicated for a three-injection treatment regimen for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative non-pharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen). In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, head-to-head study versus the market leading HA therapy, significantly more patients were "pain-free" and "symptom-free" with EUFLEXXA(TM).(1)

The process used to manufacture EUFLEXXA(TM) produces the HA that most closely resembles the HA in healthy human synovial fluid and the most highly purified HA product available today. In addition, since it is not derived from an avian source (chicken or rooster combs), the risk of reactions related to avian proteins is eliminated.(2-7)

EUFLEXXA(TM) received PMA approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 3, 2004, and became available to the public on November 8, 2005. For more information, visit www.EUFLEXXA.com.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., part of the Ferring Group, is a privately owned, international pharmaceutical company. Ferring's line of orthopaedic products includes EUFLEXXA(TM), hyaluronic acid for pain from osteoarthritis in the knee. Urology products include degarelix for prostate cancer (Phase III) and Minirin Melt for bladder dysfunction (Phase III).

Ferring also markets BRAVELLE® (urofollitropin for injection, purified), MENOPUR® and REPRONEX® (menotropins for injection, USP), Novarel® (chorionic gonadotropin for injection, USP) and ENDOMETRIN (progesterone) Vaginal Insert, 100 mg in the U.S. to infertility specialists and their patients. Ferring also offers the Q-CAP(TM), the first and only needle-free reconstitution device, for use with its fertility treatments.

Other products include ACTHREL® (corticorelin ovine triflutate for injection) for the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and DESMOPRESSIN ACETATE in injectable and rhinal tube forms for the treatment of diabetes insipidus and primary nocturnal enuresis.

The Ferring Group specializes in the research, development and commercialization of compounds in general and pediatric endocrinology, urology, gastroenterology, obstetrics/gynecology and infertility. For more information, call 888-337-7464 or visit www.FerringUSA.com.

About InfoMedics, Inc.

InfoMedics, Inc. is the only pharmaceutical services provider that delivers clear, actionable patient feedback to physicians; this feedback is designed to improve patient-physician communications while providing brand insight to pharmaceutical manufacturers. Patient feedback assists physicians at the point-of-care to optimize treatment outcomes and improve medication compliance. InfoMedics' programs facilitate the communication channel between physicians and patients around the prescribed pharmaceutical brand, enhancing product awareness and accelerating market share growth.

Founded in 1995, InfoMedics' customer base includes 14 of the world's top 15 pharmaceutical companies. The company has delivered over 150 programs across multiple therapeutic areas with industry leading ROI.

1 Kirchner M, Marshall D. A double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing alternate forms of high molecular weight hyaluronan for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2006; 14:154-162.

2 Schiavinato A, Finesso M, Cortivo R, & Abatangelo G (2002). Comparison of the effects of intra-articular injections of Hyaluronan and its chemically cross-linked derivative (Hylan G-F20) in normal rabbit knee joints. Clin Exp Rheumatol 20, 445-454.

3 Goomer RS, Leslie K, Maris T, & Amiel D (2005). Native hyaluronan produces less hypersensitivity than cross-linked hyaluronan. Clin Orthop Relat Res 239-245.

4 Leopold SS, Warme WJ, Pettis PD, & Shott S (2002). Increased frequency of acute local reaction to intra-articular hylan GF-20 (synvisc) in patients receiving more than one course of treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A, 1619-1623.

5 Puttick MP, Wade JP, Chalmers A, Connell DG, & Rangno KK (1995). Acute local reactions after intraarticular hylan for osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol 22, 1311-1314.

6 Pullman-Mooar S, Mooar P, Sieck M, Clayburne G, & Schumacher HR (2002). Are there distinctive inflammatory flares after hylan g-f 20 intraarticular injections? J Rheumatol 29, 2611-2614.

7 Chen AL, Desai P, Adler EM, & Di Cesare PE (2002). Granulomatous inflammation after Hylan G-F 20 viscosupplementation of the knee : a report of six cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A, 1142-1147.

Source: Business Wire

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