SAN DIEGO, June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
(Nasdaq: LJPC) today announced that patient advocacy leaders representing
patients with arthritis, diabetes, lupus and cancer and biotechnology industry
leaders will discuss current issues in a panel session titled "Building the
Ties With Patient Advocates For Long Term Success" today at the Biotechnology
Industry Organization (BIO) 2001 International Convention and Exhibition.
Topics to be discussed include clinical trial access and enrollment,
availability of treatment and other issues. The panelists will also discuss
the opportunity for cooperation between patient advocacy groups and industry
to help raise public awareness about diseases and biotech's new treatments for
them. The discussion is being held today from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the
Mezzanine Level, Room 14B of the San Diego Convention Center.
Speakers on the panel include, Naomi Judd, who has been an advocate for
Hepatitis C; Peter Van Etten, Chief Executive Officer of the Juvenile Diabetes
Foundation; Paula Kim, Chief Executive Officer of the Pancreatic Cancer Action
Network; Lee Peckarsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lupus
Foundation of America; Don Riggin, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Arthritis Foundation; Michael Losow, Outreach Director for BIO; Steven
Engle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of San Diego-based La Jolla
Pharmaceutical Company; and Jay Mohr, Executive Vice President of Serono. The
panel will be chaired by Michael W. Young, Executive Director of Strategic
Marketing & Communications at San Diego-based Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Incorporated.
Comments from some of the panel members:
"In this age of patient advocacy, it is more important than ever to
integrate the valuable outreach that organized patient support groups and
foundations can provide to the development and ultimate commercial launch of
new pharmaceuticals," said Michael W. Young, who has been working closely with
key cancer patient advocacy groups to raise awareness about Ligand's products
and the diseases they treat. "Patient groups can provide beneficial support
to clinical trial accruals, regulatory advisory panels, and physician and
community treatment education."
In speaking to patients afflicted with Hepatitis C, Naomi Judd has said,
"I know that there is nothing different or special about me. I believe that
I've been given whatever visibility or opportunities I might have today to
reach out and encourage you and take you to a higher level. You're smarter
than you think you are. You are stronger than you know. Stop and think about
the diseases that killed us a hundred years ago, Typhoid, Polio, Pneumonia,
common toothache, Diphtheria, Tetanus. Now realize because of our commitment,
in the near future, today's deadly diseases like Hepatitis, AIDS and Cancer
will also be passe. Only you know what you're doing to be part of our
solution. I encourage you to cling to hope."
Don Riggin, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Arthritis
Foundation noted, "It is imperative to have collaboration between biotech
companies and patient advocate groups, such as the Arthritis Foundation, to
work together to bridge the gap between research breakthroughs and clinical
applications -- getting patients the care they need faster."
Paula Kim of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network said, "Awareness,
education, and access to clinical trials are vital for both the patient and
scientific communities, especially in the deadly diseases such as pancreatic
cancer. By harnessing the energy and focus of patient advocacy groups along
with the science and discovery of the biotechnology world, we join together
and bring real meaning to the term 'from the lab to the bedside.' At the
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, we believe that Advocacy plus Research plus
Collaboration equals Hope and Progress."
Lee Peckarsky of the Lupus Foundation in America remarked, "Voluntary
health associations provide a direct link between patients and biotechnology
companies seeking to develop novel therapies for a wide range of diseases.
The associations can provide companies with objective feedback based on a
cross-section of the patient population, while giving patients access to
information they might otherwise not receive. One of the greatest advantages
of a partnership is the ability to increase communications among all
interested parties while decreasing the expense and difficulty of reaching the
appropriate audience."
"After 30 years of basic research many new compounds, therapies and
devices are now ready for clinical trials that could potentially provide a
cure for diabetes and its related complications," said Peter Van Etten, of the
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. "The challenge for researchers, biotech firms,
and patient advocacy groups is to design trails that determine whether these
new discoveries should be introduced to patients, balancing the risks
associated with trials with protection of patients."
"Our work in the HIV/AIDS arena has taught us the importance of
establishing clear and open channels of communication with the patient
advocacy community," said Jay Mohr, Executive Vice President, Metabolic
Endocrinology Business Unit, Serono, Inc. "Being attuned to the needs and
issues of the community enables companies to develop targeted, strategic
marketing programs and product improvements that resonate with physicians,
patients and their caregivers."
Steven Engle of La Jolla Pharmaceutical added, "We are facing an
unprecedented abundance of clinical trials where patient availability may
become the primary bottleneck. Patient advocates, biotechnology companies and
others must work together to educate patients on the need to participate in
the hundreds of new and ongoing clinical trials."
Mr. Engle further stated, "We need a new era of volunteerism -- a new
'Peace Corps.' Recently, President Bush summoned the nation to put 'hammer to
nail' and volunteer to build homes for the needy. Perhaps we should be
summoning the nation to take charge of the future of their own health care by
enrolling in clinical trials."
All material herein is based upon information supplied to the Company by
sources that it believes to be reliable. The information contained herein is
not guaranteed by the Company to be accurate, and should not be considered to
be all-inclusive. This press release contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ
materially from the forward-looking statements. Parties are urged to review
risks detailed from time to time in filings that the above-reference public
companies make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
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Related links:
http://www.ljpc.com
CONTACT:
Joni Ramirez, mobile, 310-994-6164,
ramirezj@ruderfinn.com, or Trish Hawkins, mobile, 323-855-9426,
hawkinst@ruderfinn.com, both of Ruder Finn Healthcare,
310-479-9929; or Linda Seaton, x133, lcs@mentusonline.com, or
Kathy W. Sweeney, x140, kwitz@mentusonline.com, both of Mentus,
Inc., 858-455-5500
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