Novartis Teams Up with Parkinson's Disease Groups to Launch New Resource for the 1.5 Million People Living with
Parkinson's Disease
Wednesday May 12, 9:00 am ET
Free kit provides information and exercise video designed for people with Parkinson's disease
EAST HANOVER, N.J., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has announced the availability of a
new, free-of-charge information and resource kit designed to help educate people living with Parkinson's disease and
their families, friends and caregivers. "Managing Parkinson's Disease" was developed in consultation with the American
Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF), the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF)
and the Parkinson Alliance (PA), with full sponsorship provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation as part of its
StEP (STalevo Educational Programs) initiative. To obtain a free kit, call toll-free 1-866-STEP-KIT (1-866-783-7548),
or visit www.stepkit.net.
"Managing Parkinson's Disease" offers people with Parkinson's disease and those who care for them a wide array of
information and resources, including information about lifestyle changes -- such as diet and exercise -- that might be
beneficial, as well as available medical treatments. The kit also includes information about how to recognize common
challenges in Parkinson's disease, such as the "wearing-off" of medications, which may call for treatment adjustments.
"With this kit, we hope to educate patients and caregivers about ways to manage the effects of Parkinson's disease,"
said Rajesh Pahwa, M.D., Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center at the University of Kansas
Medical Center. "Fortunately for patients, the latest medication advances for Parkinson's disease may help people gain
better control over symptoms like shaking and stiffness and also may improve their ability to write and walk."
The kit includes:
-- "Living with Parkinson's Disease," an overview that includes treatment
options and lifestyle changes that can help people with Parkinson's
disease better manage their condition;
-- "Coping with Parkinson's Disease," a brochure for those who care for
people with Parkinson's disease;
-- "Taking Control," a guide created to help people with Parkinson's
disease and their caregivers recognize the signs and symptoms
associated with "wearing-off;"
-- A glossary of key terms to help people living with Parkinson's disease
better communicate with their doctors and other members of their
healthcare teams; and
-- "StEP Into Movement and Flexibility," a 30-minute exercise video
specially created for people with Parkinson's that features movements
to help enhance flexibility, stability and mobility.
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment Advances
Parkinson's disease, a chronic and progressive neurological condition, affects approximately 1.5 million Americans.
While its cause is unknown, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease are primarily the result of degeneration of areas of
the brain that control and modulate movement. Symptoms include limbs that tremble; slowness of movement; stiffness and
rigidity of limbs and gait or balance problems. As the disease progresses, these symptoms usually increase and impact a
person's ability to work and function. While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, many effective medications are
now available to treat its symptoms.
The most widely used agent to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is a drug called levodopa, which has remained
the cornerstone of therapy for people with Parkinson's for nearly 40 years. However, the effects of levodopa tend to
diminish over time and people can often experience a re-emergence of their symptoms before their next dose.
"It is important for people taking levodopa medications to alert their doctor if they find that the effect of their
medication is not lasting until the next dose. This indicates that the medication may be 'wearing-off' and needs to be
adjusted for better control of symptoms," explained Dr. Pahwa. "Newer drugs like Stalevo that provide levodopa in
combination with other agents can help to extend its benefits in order to control symptoms throughout more of the day."
StalevoŽ (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) is a new form of levodopa therapy that targets end-of-dose "wearing-off"
by combining levodopa, the most widely used agent for treating Parkinson's disease, with carbidopa and entacapone.
While carbidopa reduces the side effects of levodopa, entacapone extends its benefits, permitting Parkinson's disease
patients to have an improved ability to perform everyday tasks, as well as a reduction in symptoms associated with the
disease. Stalevo simplifies treatment for many patients by providing three medications in one tablet, which reduces the
number of tablets that patients need to take daily.
The effectiveness of levodopa administered with carbidopa and entacapone in the treatment of Parkinson's disease was
demonstrated in three 24-week multicenter, randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trials in patients with
Parkinson's disease experiencing "wearing-off." In these trials, this combination increased "on" time (the period where
patients experience no symptoms), reduced "off" time (the period where the patients' symptoms return) and improved
motor function and daily activities such as patients' ability to walk and dress.
The most common side effects of Stalevo therapy are dopaminergic in nature (e.g. dyskinesia, nausea). These side
effects may be manageable with alteration in the drug dosing schedule. Other common side effects include diarrhea,
hyperkinesias, urine discoloration, hypokinesia, abdominal pain, dizziness, constipation, fatigue, pain and
hallucinations. For full prescribing information, visit http://www.stalevo.com or call 1-866-STALEVO (1-866- 782-5386).
Stalevo was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2003 and is marketed by Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Corporation and manufactured by Orion Pharma.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation's business,
which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "hope," "may," "can," or similar
expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any
future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Commercialization can be affected
by, amongst other things, uncertainties relating to regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally,
the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection and competition in
general, as well as factors discussed in the Company's Form 20F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops, manufactures and markets leading innovative prescription
drugs used to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including central nervous system disorders, organ
transplantation, cardiovascular diseases, dermatological diseases, respiratory disorders, cancer and arthritis. The
company's mission is to improve people's lives by pioneering novel healthcare solutions.
Novartis has been a leader in the neuroscience area for more than 50 years, having pioneered early breakthrough
treatments for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, Epilepsy,
Schizophrenia and migraine, many of which continue to be regarded as "gold standards" to this day. Novartis
Neuroscience continues to be at the forefront of research and development of new compounds, is committed to addressing
unmet medical needs and to supporting patients and families affected by these disorders.
Located in East Hanover, New Jersey, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG. Novartis AG
(NYSE: NVS - News) is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health. In 2003, the Group's businesses achieved
sales of USD 24.9 billion and a net income of USD 5.0 billion. The Group invested approximately USD 3.8 billion in R&D.
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 78,500 people and operate in over 140
countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com
For more information and for a copy of the complete prescribing information, please contact:
Media
Kate King, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Office: 862 778 5588
Fredda Malkoff, Feinstein Kean Healthcare
Office: 617 577 8110
Investor Relations
Jill Pozarek, Novartis Corporation
Office: 212 830 2445
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
One Health Plaza
East Hanover, NJ 07936
Source: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
SOURCE: Yahoo News (press release) - May 12, 2004
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040512/new005_1.html
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