Scabies

AI-driven Virtual Consultation Platform with Leading Medical Experts CARMEL, Ind., Oct. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ParaPRO, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company specializing in innovative treatments for human ectoparasites, has unveiled Thought Leader AI. This cutting-edge decision support tool, developed in collaboration with the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) at the University of Southern California, enables healthcare practitioners to conduct lifelike consultations with top scabies specialists. From diagnosis to treatment, Thought Leader AI aims to support clinical decision-making and foster a virtual exchange of expert insights. Healthcare providers can visit to experience Thought Leader AI in action. Non-healthcare providers can contact [email protected] to receive instructions on how to access the platform. Continue Reading ParaPRO's Thought Leader AI: Where Artificial Intelligence Meets Scabies Expertise. This transformative platform utilizes advanced AI-based natural language processing to distill precise responses from extensive curated video footage featuring three disease-state experts. It offers real-time, evidence-based consultations for diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient management. By allowing healthcare practitioners to tap into novel perspectives and expert insights, Thought Leader AI establishes a vibrant virtual forum for best practices. The highly respected experts featured on the platform are: Dr. Theodore Rosen, MD, FAAD, Professor of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine; Chief of Dermatology Services at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center Dr. Anthony J. Mancini, MD, FAAP, FAAD, Division Head & Associate Fellowship Program Director, Dermatology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Christopher Belcher, MD, FAAP, Director of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Payton Manning Children's Hospital, St. Vincent/Ascension. "We are excited to broaden access to Thought Leader AI so that all healthcare practitioners can easily access this transformative decision support tool," said Bill Culpepper III, President of ParaPRO. "This new technology allows clinicians, many of whom don't often see scabies in their practices, to engage in "live" consults with well-known medical specialists on scabies anytime, anywhere. It's akin to having the world's leading experts at your side in real-time. Thought Leader AI also informs clinicians about available treatment options, including the first and only FDA-approved 'complete cure' for scabies." Added Dr. Rosen, "This platform has the potential to revolutionize how medical professionals approach complex cases and collaborate to provide the highest quality care. With Thought Leader AI, healthcare professionals can make more informed decisions, collaborate seamlessly, and deliver expected outcomes." With scabies affecting nearly 1 million Americans yearly1, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment remain paramount. Thought Leader AI addresses these challenges head-on, allowing practitioners to seek real-time expert advice, gain invaluable clinical insights, and explore best practices. About Scabies Scabies is a pervasive global health challenge. Affecting a diverse demographic, it thrives and spreads in crowded environments due to direct, prolonged skin-to-skin transmission.2 Caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, symptoms primarily include intense itching and a distinct skin rash. About Natroba Natroba (spinosad) Topical Suspension, 0.9% is an FDA-approved, targeted topical prescription therapy with multi-ectoparasitic indications. Natroba is indicated for the topical treatment of scabies infestations in adult and pediatric patients four (4) years of age and older and is the only FDA-approved, targeted topical prescription therapy that meets the latest FDA criteria for effectiveness and safety in treating scabies infestations.3-6 Natroba is dosed as a single, full-body application. Click here for a video on how to properly apply Natroba. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Indication Natroba™ Topical Suspension is a pediculicide indicated for the topical treatment of head lice infestations in adult and pediatric patients six (6) months of age and older. Adjunctive Measures Natroba™ Topical Suspension should be used in the context of an overall lice management program: Wash in hot water or dry-clean all recently worn clothing, hats, used bedding and towels Wash personal care items such as combs, brushes, and hair clips in hot water A fine-tooth comb or special nit comb may be used to remove dead lice and nits. Important Safety Information Natroba™ Topical Suspension contains benzyl alcohol and is not recommended for use in neonates and infants below the age of 6 months. Intravenous administration of benzyl alcohol has been associated with serious adverse reactions and death in neonates and low birth-weight infants. Most common adverse events were: application site redness (3%), eye redness (2%) and application site irritation (1%). You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit , or call 1-800-FDA-1088. About ParaPRO ParaPRO LLC. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on innovating anti-parasitic formulations that minimize the disruption and economic burden on patients and families and providing support for the broader professional community with the most current insights, tools and resources that educate and inform. In 2021, the company introduced the first product (new drug application) for scabies to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in more than 30 years and the only targeted topical therapy that meets the FDA's new criteria for a "complete cure".7,8 For more information, visit References IQVIA March 2019-March 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parasites. . Accessed, 9/26/22. Natroba Prescribing Information. Data on file, ParaPRO, LLC. Summary of NDA approvals & receipts, 1938 to the present. US FDA website. . Accessed January 19, 2021. LaMaina J. Can the record-breaking number of FDA new drug approvals continue? Forbes website. record-breaking-number-of-fda-new-drug-approvals-continue/?sh=260bdf15aa83. Published January 9, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2021. U.S. FDA (n.d.). Orange Book: Approved Drug products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. . Accessed, 9/26/22. Data on file, ParaPRO, LLC SOURCE ParaPRO, LLC

TOKYO, May 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, "Astellas") today announced that it has committed to supporting the 3rd phase of the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), together with a cross-sector group of funding partners. The cross-sector group has committed over US$200 million to the GHIT Fund. Furthermore, we have contributed to the GHIT Fund for three consecutive terms since the inception of the GHIT Fund. The GHIT Fund launched in 2013 to leverage Japanese expertise and capability for life-saving health innovations, including drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, to combat infectious diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)*1 prevalent in the world's poorest countries. A public interest corporation registered in Japan, the GHIT Fund is the first international public-private partnership fund (PPP) between the Japanese Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, private sector, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome and the United Nations Development Programme. The GHIT Fund has invested about 29.1 billion yen to support approximately 115 projects over the last ten years. The GHIT Fund engages in direct and effective activities, such as the establishment of a public-private partnership mechanism and launching R&D projects utilizing Japanese drug discovery technologies, innovations and investment in diagnostics development. "Astellas is working to solve issues of Access to Health (ATH) through the GHIT Fund which Astellas has been participating in since the 1st phase of the GHIT Fund and is participating in a GHIT-funded consortium*² that aims to develop a potential new pediatric treatment option for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children." said Naoki Okamura, President and CEO of Astellas. "Astellas is contributing to this development by leveraging our formulation technologies and know-how. In addition, we have contributed to malaria research in collaboration with partners to solve issues of ATH since 2017." *1: About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions and affect more than 1.6 billion people, costing developing economies billions of dollars every year. They mainly affect populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals and livestock. NTDs are a group of 20 infectious diseases – Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, Dengue/Chikungunya, Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), Echinococcosis, Foodborne trematodiases, Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), Leishmaniasis, Leprosy (Hansen's disease), Lymphatic filariasis, Mycetoma, Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Rabies, Scabies and other ectoparasitoses, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiases, Snakebite envenoming, Taeniasis/Cysticercosis, Trachoma, Yaws (Endemic treponematoses) . *2: Schistosomiasis and consortium of pediatric formulation for praziquantel Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in tropical countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease has a particularly high incidence rate among children. The existing "gold standard" treatment for schistosomiasis is praziquantel. However, one challenge is that praziquantel tablets are difficult to administer to preschool-aged children, including infants and toddlers, mainly due to their large size and the drug's bitter taste. Together with a consortium of partners, Astellas has contributed to developing a potential new pediatric treatment option, arpraziquantel, for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children. Derived from praziquantel, arpraziquantel is a small orally dispersible tablet, with reduction of bitterness. The new formulation was initially developed by Astellas. Arpraziquantel can be manufactured using simple production technology, while holding down production costs, and the tablets are stable even in the hot and humid environment of tropical areas. Astellas has transferred the technology and expertise needed to develop it to a consortium partner in Brazil, thereby helping to build local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. In December 2022, EMA (European Medicines Agency) has validated the regulatory application for arpraziquantel and has started its review process. About Astellas Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+® healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients. For more information, please visit our website at . Cautionary Notes In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice. SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc.

Thought Leader AI Enables Prescribers to Transcend Boundaries of Space and Time to Speak "Live" with Leading Medical Experts CARMEL, Ind., Feb. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ParaPRO, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatments for human ectoparasites, introduced Thought Leader AI – a pioneering medical education platform that enables healthcare practitioners to engage "live" with leading clinical experts on topics of public health at Maui Derm Hawaii 2023. The presentation was moderated by Maui Derm founder, Dr. George Martin, during a "Talk Story" session on January 23, 2023. Attendees were among the first to experience the educational benefits of Thought Leader AI specific to the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of scabies, a common, but underrepresented health concern. Continue Reading ParaPRO Presents the Future of Scientific Exchange at Maui Derm Hawaii 2023 "We were excited to share Thought Leader AI with conference attendees," said Bill Culpepper III, President of ParaPRO. "This new technology allows healthcare practitioners, many of whom don't often see scabies in their practices, to have what feels like a real conversation with a clinical expert and enables us to share their knowledge and clinical experiences with practitioners everywhere, regardless of the physical barriers to in-person interaction. Thought Leader AI also informs clinicians about available treatment options, including the first and only FDA-approved "complete cure" for scabies." Thought Leader AI features three highly respected disease-state experts including Dr. Theodore Rosen, MD, FAAD, Professor of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine; Chief of Dermatology Service at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. According to Dr. Rosen, "The use of AI-based interactive technology is going to change the way we look at educating practitioners from this point forward." To preview Thought Leader AI and learn more, visit . About Thought Leader AI Thought Leader AI is a pioneering medical education platform to advance public health that was unveiled to pediatricians at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in October 2022. This groundbreaking solution, a collaboration between ParaPRO and the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), enables prescribers to ask questions that prompt real-time responses from three highly respected physicians in the form of digital human avatars, using AI-based natural language processing, revolutionary filming techniques, and specialized display technologies. Now and into the future, practitioners, fellows, and residents can have conversational interactions with these thought leaders by transcending the physical boundaries of time and space. About Scabies Scabies is one of the most common and underrepresented global public health concerns. It affects people of all races and social classes and can spread rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent close body contact. There are an estimated 850,000 - 1 million cases of scabies in the United States each year.1 Scabies is caused by an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. The scabies mite is usually spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies.2 About ParaPRO ParaPRO LLC. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on innovating anti-parasitic formulations that minimize the disruption and economic burden on patients and families and providing support for the broader professional community with the most current insights, tools and resources that educate and inform. In 2021, the company introduced the first product (new drug application) for scabies to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in more than 30 years and the only targeted topical therapy that meets the FDA's new criteria for a "complete cure".3,4 For more information, visit . About Maui Derm Maui Derm is the leader in dermatology medical education for MDs, NPs, and PAs. Maui Derm's lectures, panel discussions, and workshops are designed to bridge the ever-widening knowledge gap by providing an in-depth look at topics vital to the practice of dermatology. For more information, visit . References IQVIA March 2019-March 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parasites. . Accessed, 9/26/22. U.S. FDA (n.d.). Orange Book: Approved Drug products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. . Accessed, 9/26/22. Data on file, ParaPRO, LLC SOURCE ParaPRO, LLC