TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emmaus Life Sciences (Emmaus) announces it has entered into a distribution agreement with DMS Pharmaceutical Group (DMS). The agreement makes Endari available to patients represented by the U.S. Department of Defense, which include three million active military personnel and 9.4 million beneficiaries.
DMS is a Park Ridge, Illinois-based pharmaceutical wholesale provider and prime vendor supplier to the U.S. Department of Defense. DMS supplies prescription and over-the-counter drugs to military base treatment facilities, hospitals and medical clinics.
The agreement will provide distribution for Endari, the first FDA-approved treatment for sickle cell disease in nearly 20 years, to military personnel and beneficiaries with sickle cell disease.
“Our new partnership with DMS Pharmaceutical is an exciting step forward as we strive to make Endari more available to patients who need it,” said Yutaka Niihara, MD, MPH, CEO and founder of Emmaus Life Sciences. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to ensure that the men and women serving our country, as well as their family members, have access to Endari.”
“DMS Pharmaceutical is pleased to collaborate with Emmaus on Endari as a therapeutic treatment for our Department of Defense Military Treatment Facilities’ patients afflicted by sickle cell disease," said Sam Lazich, President of DMS. "DMS’ tag line – ‘Service is the Difference’ – is the cornerstone of the company’s relationships with its customers – a theme that continues to guide us. We do everything we can to provide exceptional service to our customers. Our relationship with Emmaus further strengthens our ability to serve our important military customers and patients.”
About Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder characterized by the production of an altered form of hemoglobin which polymerizes and becomes fibrous, causing red blood cells to become rigid and change form so that they appear sickle shaped instead of soft and rounded. Patients with Sickle Cell Disease suffer from debilitating episodes of sickle cell crises, which occur when the rigid, adhesive and inflexible red blood cells occlude blood vessels. Sickle cell crises cause excruciating pain as a result of insufficient oxygen being delivered to tissue, referred to as tissue ischemia, and inflammation. These events may lead to a variety of other adverse outcomes such as acute chest syndrome that requires hospitalization. Sickle cell disease is an orphan disease, affecting approximately 100,000 patients in the U.S. and millions worldwide with significant unmet medical needs.
About Endari™
Indication
Endari is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients 5 years of age and older.
Important Safety Information
The most common adverse reactions (incidence >10%) in clinical studies were constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in extremity, back pain, and chest pain.
Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation included 1 case each of hypersplenism, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, burning sensation, and hot flash.
The safety and efficacy of Endari in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease younger than 5 years of age has not been established.
For more information, please see full Prescribing Information of Endari at www.ENDARIrx.com/PI.
About Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.
Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies primarily for rare and orphan disease. Its lead product, Endari, demonstrated positive clinical results in the completed Phase 3 clinical trial for sickle cell anemia and sickle ß0-thalassemia and has received FDA approval. Visit: http://www.emmausmedical.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and potential commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in reports filed by Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Emmaus is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
