Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABBI), an integrated, global biopharmaceutical company today announced the launch of the Abraxis Patient Access Program (APAP), a comprehensive patient assistance program for cancer patients being treated with ABRAXANE® (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound). Through APAP, financially eligible cancer patients in need of treatment with ABRAXANE will receive access to the drug at no cost. This new program, which replaces the previous ABRAXANE patient assistance programs, makes it possible for financially eligible cancer patients to receive assistance in all instances where ABRAXANE has been prescribed.
“Through our new patient assistance program, we will be able to provide eligible cancer patients with ABRAXANE at no cost,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, chairman and chief executive officer of Abraxis BioScience. “Since its launch in 2005, over 20,000 patients with cancer have received ABRAXANE. With nearly 1.4 million people in the United States estimated to be diagnosed with cancer in 2006, it is important for patients to be able to receive the best possible treatment. We are committed to ensuring there are no cost barriers for cancer patients who may benefit from treatment with ABRAXANE.”
Access to this program is available through the Abraxis Resource Center (ARC of Support), a comprehensive program that provides a broad range of services caring for patients being treated with ABRAXANE. This new program offers two distinct access points for cancer patients:
ABRAXANE at no cost to eligible uninsured patients with a household adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 per year.
Replacement of ABRAXANE at no cost for physicians treating an eligible insured patient, who requires additional financial support following a denied insurance claim.
“Since the FDA approval of ABRAXANE in January 2005, we have provided reimbursement and product information support for physicians and their patients. Our dedication to this endeavor has not wavered. With the launch of this new program, we are now able to provide expanded reimbursement support to more cancer patients,” said Carlo Montagner, president of Abraxis Oncology, a division of Abraxis BioScience.
Physicians who wish to enroll a patient in the program should call the ARC of Support at 1-800-564-0216, option three. For more information about ABRAXANE and the services provided by ARC of Support including APAP, please visit www.abraxane.com.
About Breast Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. The risk of having breast cancer for a woman sometime during her life is about one in eight. In 2006 alone, an estimated 213,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur in women, and an estimated 41,000 women are expected to die from the disease.
About ABRAXANE®
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) in January 2005 for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within six months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated. For the full prescribing information for ABRAXANE® please visit www.abraxane.com.
About Abraxis BioScience, Inc.
Abraxis BioScience, Inc. is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to meeting the needs of critically ill patients. The company develops, manufactures and markets one of the broadest portfolios of injectable products and leverages revolutionary technology such as its nab™ platform to discover and deliver breakthrough therapeutics that transform the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The first FDA approved product to use this nab platform, ABRAXANE®, was launched in 2005 for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Abraxis trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol ABBI. For more information about the company and its products, please visit www.abraxisbio.com.
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