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PhRMA Launches New Campaign to Improve Heart Disease and Stroke Awareness

Posted on: Monday, 5 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help Americans in the fight against heart disease, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today launched a new multi-media national health education campaign.

"Coronary vascular disease impacts one in every three Americans and is the number one killer according to the American Heart Association. It's important for patients to know that there are important steps they can take today that can reduce their chances of developing these killer diseases," said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of PhRMA.

PhRMA's new public service campaign will stress the importance of Americans consulting with their health care providers, as well as visiting helpful websites where they can find answers to prevent and treat these deadly conditions. In addition, they can find information on the latest advances in the treatment and prevention of coronary disease. The new campaign, supported by national newspaper and television ads in addition to new web-based materials and radio segments, will provide vital information in central, easy- to-find locations.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease has topped the list of killer diseases in America every year since 1918. Today, more than 70 million Americans suffer from one or more types of cardiovascular disease with an annual cost of nearly $400 billion.

Available heart disease and stroke treatments have helped reduce the death rate from these conditions by half over the last 30 years. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), as many as 815,000 more Americans would die from heart disease and 250,000 more would die from strokes every year without these medicines. There are more than 146 new medicines in the pipeline that can treat or prevent dangerous cardiovascular conditions and stroke.

"PhRMA members and their scientists want to help Americans find answers to their questions about heart disease and strokes," said Tauzin. "I hope everyone will take a moment to visit these sites and get the information they need to learn how to treat and ultimately prevent heart attacks and strokes."

Materials from the national public awareness campaign are available at http://www.phrma.org/heartdisease/. For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org/

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005.

PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org/

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org/

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info/

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

CONTACT: Jeff Trewhitt of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers ofAmerica, +1-202-835-3460

Web site: http://www.phrma.org/http://www.pparx.org/http://www.buysafedrugs.info/http://www.innovation.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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