CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AptarGroup, a leading global provider of innovative drug delivery devices and consumer dispensing systems, and Adapt Pharma, a pharmaceutical company solely focused on expanding affordable access to NARCAN® (naloxone) Nasal Spray, today announced a joint donation of 4,000 doses of NARCAN® to Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s Opioid Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force, with another 1,000 doses scheduled to go to the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition Friday.
Recognizing an unmet need in the treatment landscape, Aptar and Adapt collaborated on the development of a nasal spray system for NARCAN® that delivers a concentrated 4 mg dose of naloxone without any required assembly or specialized medical training.
“We are proud of our innovative drug delivery and dispensing solutions that improve the lives of millions of people around the world daily. It’s especially meaningful when we are able to contribute to saving lives. We are pleased to partner with Adapt Pharma, Governor Rauner’s Task Force and the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition to help address the opioid epidemic in our own backyard,” said Stephan Tanda, CEO of Aptar. “Raising awareness of the crisis and making these potentially life-saving doses more accessible to those who most need it will have a lasting impact on our community.”
Nearly 1,950 people died of opioid overdoses in Illinois in 2016, an 82 percent increase in just three years. Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and its analogues, are disproportionately contributing to the rise in both fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the state, with a tenfold increase from 2013 to 2016.
With headquarters in Crystal Lake, Ill., Aptar recognized the need in Illinois – and its home county of McHenry – for increased access to NARCAN®. Today’s donation of 4,000 doses was received by the Illinois Department of Public Health on behalf of the Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois State Police, as well as by Chicago Recovery Alliance. The McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition will accept the donation of 1,000 doses on Friday.
“This product is a life-saver,” Governor Rauner said as the presentation was made at Chicago Recovery Alliance’s Taylor Street offices in Garfield Park this afternoon. “We will continue to fight the root causes of this epidemic, but meanwhile, this generous donation is most welcome and appreciated.”
“Every day, hundreds of lives are forever changed by the opioid epidemic. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is an effective emergency treatment that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when an adequate dose is administered in time,” said Seamus Mulligan, chairman and CEO at Adapt Pharma. “We are proud to work with Aptar and the State of Illinois to ensure this critical intervention tool is more readily available and in the hands of those most likely to witness an overdose.”
The NARCAN® Nasal Spray donation will largely impact the Illinois State Police in the line of action and benefit the Illinois criminal justice system, giving parole agents a tool to help save lives in the field. Additional doses will support Chicago Recovery Alliance’s mission of harm reduction, as well as education and distribution programs in McHenry County.
"Lives in our community are impacted on a daily basis, and we are excited that Aptar recognizes the epidemic in their home community," said Jason Sterwerf, chairman of the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition. “The McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition is honored that Aptar is making a commitment to continue to make this intervention tool available for our community partners who confront this epidemic every day.”
The need for expanded awareness, education and access to naloxone is more apparent than ever. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care, and repeat applications may be necessary. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance.
About AptarGroup
AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR) is a leading global supplier of a broad range of innovative drug delivery devices and dispensing and sealing solutions for the pharmaceutical, beauty, personal care, home care, food and beverage markets. Aptar is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. For more information, visit www.aptar.com.
About Adapt Pharma
Adapt Pharma is a privately-held pharmaceutical company solely focused on expanding access to NARCAN Nasal Spray. Adapt Pharma’s company headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland and its U.S. headquarters are in Radnor, Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.adaptpharma.com.
ABOUT NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray
NARCAN® Nasal Spray is indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present.
NARCAN® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care.
Always seek emergency medical assistance in the event of a suspected, potentially life-threatening opioid emergency after administration of the first dose of NARCAN® Nasal Spray.
If the desired response is not obtained after 2 or 3 minutes, administer an additional dose of NARCAN® Nasal Spray in an alternate nostril using a new NARCAN® Nasal Spray. If the patient responds to NARCAN® Nasal Spray and relapses back into respiratory depression before emergency assistance arrives, administer an additional dose and continue surveillance of the patient. If there is still no response and additional doses are available, administer additional doses of NARCAN® Nasal Spray every 2 to 3 minutes using a new NARCAN® Nasal Spray in alternate nostrils with each dose until emergency medical assistance arrives. Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance.
See full Prescribing Information, Patient Information, and Instructions for Use of this product, available here: http://www.narcan.com/pdf/NARCAN-Prescribing-Information.pdf.
