Upsher-Smith Strengthens Support for Rare Disease Communities with Enhanced Program

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC, based in Maple Grove, Minnesota, has announced significant enhancements to its Promise of Support™ Program, aimed at providing extensive support to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals involved in the rare disease community. This initiative underscores Upsher-Smith's ongoing dedication to assisting those affected by rare diseases.

The core of Upsher-Smith's Promise of Support™ Program is to ensure that patients have timely and dependable access to essential medications. The program features various customized services, including quick start options and bridge supply programs. Additionally, through a partnership with the specialty pharmacy PANTHERx® Rare, the program promises an exemplary experience for patients who require medications for rare diseases. This collaboration ensures swift responses and clear, open communication channels. The program also includes copay assistance for eligible patients to help ease the financial burden on patients and their families.

Jim Maahs, Vice President of Specialty & Rare Disease at Upsher-Smith, highlighted the company's commitment to the rare disease community, which has now entered its seventh year. Maahs stated, "By reducing the complexities of the treatment journey, we hope to offer peace of mind to patients, families, and caregivers to focus on what truly matters – their health and well-being. Upsher-Smith is dedicated to understanding the unique needs of rare disease communities and providing value-added services that ease access to critical medications."

Upsher-Smith continues to expand its portfolio of rare disease medications, ensuring that the quality of these medications meets or exceeds that of innovator brands. For more information about the Upsher-Smith Promise of Support™ Program, particularly for the VIGADRONE® family of products, interested parties can visit the VIGADRONE website. TORPENZ™ (everolimus) Tablets are also expected to be available by mid-2024, and updates will be provided accordingly.

Importantly, VIGADRONE® (vigabatrin) is a prescription medication used for treating Infantile Spasms (IS) in patients aged 1 month to 2 years, provided the benefits outweigh the risks of potential vision loss. It is also prescribed for Refractory Complex Partial Seizures (CPS) in adults and children aged 2 years and older when other treatments have failed to provide adequate control of CPS. VIGADRONE should not be the initial treatment for CPS.

Because VIGADRONE may cause permanent vision loss, it is only available under a special program known as the Vigabatrin Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. Healthcare providers will explain the details of this program to patients. It's critical for patients to undergo regular vision testing before and during the treatment to monitor any potential vision damage, which can be severe and irreversible.

Other serious side effects of VIGADRONE include changes detectable through MRI scans, a condition known as intramyelinic edema (IME), and a risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Patients should not discontinue VIGADRONE without consulting their healthcare provider, as sudden cessation can lead to uncontrollable seizures.

Common side effects of VIGADRONE in adults include blurred vision, sleepiness, dizziness, and coordination problems. In children, weight gain is a notable side effect, along with symptoms similar to those seen in adults. For infants, side effects include sleepiness, bronchitis, ear infections, and irritability. It's important for patients to report any troublesome side effects to their healthcare provider.

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, now part of the Bora Group, remains a trusted name in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, committed to improving patient health through high-quality products and sustainable growth. Bora Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in Taiwan, supports this mission with a global distribution network spanning over 100 countries.

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