WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to streamline the
process of providing much-needed prescription medicines to hurricane victims
along the Gulf Coast, PhRMA and the Partnership for Prescription Assistance
(PPA) will make it easier for people from devastated areas to enroll in
established patient assistance programs.
"We want to make certain that every single person who needs help gets it
during the difficult weeks and months ahead," said PhRMA President and CEO
Billy Tauzin, who represented parts of the devastated Gulf Coast region for 25
years in Congress. "These people include an estimated 400,000 unemployed
residents of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as well as tens of thousands
of additional people who could be displaced by Hurricane Rita when she moves
ashore. We're here to offer a helping hand at a time when so many people need
it the most."
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, funded by America's
pharmaceutical research companies in partnership with more than 1,200
healthcare providers and community groups nationwide, is committed to
providing access to free or nearly free drugs to millions of Americans who are
uninsured, underinsured or low-income. Since its launch on April 5, nearly 1
million people have been matched to a private or public patient assistance
program.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, PhRMA's member companies have
donated nearly $120 million in refrigerated insulin, vaccines, antibiotics,
antiseptics, non-prescription pain relievers and other drugs, wound care
products, surgical equipment, millions of cans of infant formula, tens of
thousands of personal care kits, a wide range of other supplies and large
amounts of cash.
Hurricane Katrina contributions also have included three 80-foot long
"labs on wheels" that provide health care staffs working at mobile hospitals
with the most modern diagnostic equipment, an emergency diabetes clinic at
Louisiana State University's Pennington Medical Center, company aircraft to
transport critically ill patients to emergency treatment centers and tens of
thousands of doses of tetanus vaccine for both victims and emergency relief
workers.
The contributions have been made directly to ravaged areas and to the
American Red Cross, AmeriCares, the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation and
other public and private relief organizations.
The following is a summary of company contributions to date:
ABBOTT
* Provided $2 million in cash donations to key relief organizations.
* Donated and shipped $4.5 million in nutritional, medical and
pharmaceutical products to help victims of the disaster.
* Three 80-foot-long "labs on wheels" are providing healthcare staff
working at mobile hospitals with the latest advanced diagnostic
equipment.
AMGEN
* Initial cash donation of $2.5 million and establishing a company-wide
Hurricane Katrina Relief Program in support of humanitarian aid, with a
special focus on access to health care.
* The Amgen Foundation donated $125,000 to be divided between two relief
support organizations.
* The Foundation will also match $485,000 in staff contributions. The
matching gift program will be active for six months so that number will
continue to grow.
* Working to ensure uninterrupted distribution of products to suppliers,
physicians and most importantly, patients in the impacted areas.
AMYLIN
* Donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross and will match all employee
contributions up to an additional $100,000.
* Also donating $50,000 to the Pennington Medical Center at the Louisiana
State University in Baton Rouge for the establishment of an emergency
diabetes clinic to serve individuals who are now homeless or unable to
access proper care and medications.
ASTELLAS
* Donating $250,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.
* Additionally, Astellas will match employee contributions up to $75,000
to the American Red Cross.
* Evaluating what antibiotics should be delivered to relief areas.
ASTRAZENECA
* Initial cash donation of $1 million to the American Red Cross.
* Will provide up to $5 million in free medicine to victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
* Provided a $250,000 donation to support an emergency psychiatric
assistance program that aids community mental health centers in states
across the country that are reaching out to displaced and relocated
hurricane evacuees with serious mental illnesses.
* Will match company employee donations to the American Red Cross dollar-
for-dollar.
* Will continue to provide free medicines to patients and clinics through
the company's Patient Assistance and Caring Partners Programs, and to
national and local disaster relief organizations aiding hurricane-
affected areas.
BAYER
* Donations have doubled since their initial pledge and are now close to
$4 million in cash and goods.
* Donated and shipped two tractor-trailer loads of materials including
employee-donated supplies, over-the-counter products and blood glucose
monitors.
* Will match Bayer employee donations dollar-for-dollar, which will then
be donated to the American Red Cross. Employees have already donated
$220,000.
BERLEX
* Will match employees' contributions to the American Red Cross.
* Replacing lost or destroyed product to patients, as needed, at no
charge.
BMS
* Donated $1.1 million in cash to the American Red Cross.
* Product donations valued at over $2 million (through our relief agency
partners Direct Relief International, Project HOPE, and Americares).
* Donations of over $235,000 to the American Red Cross through the
company's Employee Matching Gift program, which matches U.S. employees'
contributions dollar for dollar. To date, over 1,200 employees have
participated in this program.
* Mead Johnson & Company has donated approximately $700,000 worth of
infant formula, children's nutritional products and feeding
accessories.
* Will donate ostomy, wound care and skin care products worth
approximately $200,000 for hurricane victims.
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM
* Cash donations up to $600,000 to aid various relief and charitable
organizations.
* More than $2 million in free branded and multisource product donations
have been designated to clinics and patients. Will continue to make
substantial donations as needs are assessed.
* Supporting the relief initiatives of our Pharmacy Retail Partners.
Initiatives include providing free product for those individuals
displaced by this disaster.
* Additionally, the company has taken extra steps to ensure that its
Patient Assistance Program can quickly respond to patients in the
impacted area.
CEPHALON
* Matching employee donations to hurricane relief organizations.
* Donating product to emergency workers that treats excessive sleepiness
associated with shift work sleep disorder.
DAIICHI
* Donating $10,000 to the American Red Cross.
* Company match of employee contributions will result in an additional
$25,690 for relief efforts.
EISAI
* Donating a total of $1.25 million in cash -- $1 million from parent
company Eisai Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, and $250,000 from
Eisai U.S.
* Will also match employee donations.
ELI LILLY
* Donated $1 million to the American Red Cross
* Donated $1 million in insulin products to Heart to Heart
* Additional $1.8 million in insulin and mental health products to
hospitals, clinics, and health care centers.
* Donated more than $150,000 from employees to the American Red Cross
through the company's employee matching gift fund program, which
matches employees' contributions dollar-for-dollar. To date, more than
1,000 U.S. employees have donated.
* Entered into agreements with retail pharmacies to dispense free Lilly
medicines to those affected by the hurricane.
GENZYME
* Will make product donations.
* Matching employee contribution program.
GLAXOSMITHKLINE
* Donated one million dollars to relief funds -- $500,000 to the American
Red Cross, $250,000 to the Mississippi Hurricane Fund and $250,000 to
the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation.
* Donated $7 million dollars in prescription drug products including
medicines for diabetes, heart disease, antibiotics, asthma and
vaccines.
* International relief organizations are distributing $1.5 million of GSK
medicines to hospitals and shelters.
* Consumer products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, antacids and pain
relievers are also being donated.
* Matching employee contributions through gift program and United Way.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
* Donating $5 million in cash to various relief and charitable
organizations.
* In addition, donated approximately $2 million worth of essential
disaster relief products including 2,000 personal care kits and two
Disaster Relief Modules to MAP International. Donations have included
non-prescription pain relievers, wound care products, prescription
medicines and surgical products.
* Working closely with disaster relief organizations to meet the
immediate needs for personal care and medical products and determine
ongoing requirements.
* Matching employee and retiree donations to relief organizations.
Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
MERCK
* Immediate cash donation of $1 million from The Merck Company Foundation
to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts.
* Donated more than $10 million in vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B,
Hemophilus influenzae type b (HIB), measles, mumps and rubella to
assist relief efforts. Will continue to make substantial donations of
medicines and vaccines as the need is assessed.
* Donated more than $530,000 in non-vaccine pharmaceutical products.
* Replacing prescription medicines for victims, hospitals and clinics
that lost medicines in the flood.
* Additional shipments of Merck medicines worth approximately $194,000
are being delivered through non-governmental organizations.
* Ensuring that areas impacted are aware of the Merck Patient Assistance
Program, which provides donated medicines free for eligible Americans.
* 100% match (by The Merck Company Foundation) of employee donations to
qualified relief agencies engaged in disaster relief efforts.
MILLENNIUM
* Employees have contributed more than $17,000 to the American Red Cross
and AmeriCares.
* Through VELCADE Reimbursement Hotline, Millennium is working with
physicians and patients to locate new treatment facilities and care for
displaced patients.
NOVARTIS
* Donated more than $10.5 million dollars in pharmaceutical and over-the-
counter products, including infant and baby and nutritional products.
* Donated $1 million dollars cash to relief efforts, which includes
employee donations, company dollar-for-dollar matching gifts, and US
Novartis Group Companies corporate contributions.
* Working with local government officials and third party organizations
to ship products (AmeriCares, American Red Cross).
NOVO NORDISK
* Donating $1 million, with half the monetary donation to provide
immediate care for people with diabetes and the other half for general
relief efforts.
* Donated and shipped $3.8 million worth of insulin products and delivery
devices into the Gulf Coast area.
* Will provide clinics and shelters with refrigerators and generators as
needed.
* Will match all personal employee donations to the American Red Cross
through November 30, 2005.
ORGANON
* Will make cash donations.
* Matching employee donations.
* Independently raising money for relief efforts.
OTSUKA
* Cash donation of $3,000 to the American Red Cross.
* Other Otsuka Group companies in the U.S. have donated an additional
$7,900.
* Made product donations to hurricane victims in the area.
PFIZER
* To date, Pfizer has contributed nearly $6 million in cash contributions
from the company, its employees and the Pfizer Foundation as well as
the donation of medicines, consumer and animal health products.
* Providing Pfizer medicines to patients at shelters and relief sites
through Pfizer hospital partners in Baton Rouge, Houston, and Dallas.
* Donating anti-infective medicines and first-aid supplies, including the
antibiotic Neosporin, among other consumer products.
* Ensuring that patients displaced by displaced by Katrina can obtain
emergency supplies of their Pfizer medicines through a pharmacy
partnership program.
* More than $1 million donated as part of a matching fund program.
PROCTER & GAMBLE
* Donated $8 million in combined cash and products.
* Shipped more than 130 truckloads of product to victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
* Continuing to work with the American Red Cross to assess additional
needs.
* Encouraging employees to contribute to the American Red Cross.
PURDUE PHARMA
* Will match donations made by employees to the American Red Cross and
AmeriCares, up to $50,000.
* Working with AmeriCares to provide medications such as antibiotics and
antiseptics ($800,000 worth of Betadine).
ROCHE
* Providing HIV products, such as Fuzeon and Invirase, to state AIDS Drug
Assistance Programs (ADAPs) that are assisting displaced patients from
the ADAP programs in the affected areas.
* Will provide products to eligible individuals through existing patient
assistance program, at no charge.
* Will also offer reimbursement assistance for selected products.
* Providing immunosuppressive drugs to transplant centers and hospitals
for transplant recipients who have lost their medications or who have
been made indigent by the disaster.
* Has extended the employee matching gift program to support Hurricane
Katrina relief through the American Red Cross.
SANOFI-AVENTIS
* Donated more than $1.8 million in diabetes medicines for hurricane
victims. Delivered 30,000 vials of Lantus, an injectable insulin
treatment for diabetes, to the hurricane disaster region.
* Pledged $100,000 donation to provide needed medical and health services
to the children of hurricane victims.
* Donated 200,000 doses of influenza vaccine at a market value of nearly
$2 million total.
* Also donated tens of thousands of doses of tetanus vaccine for use by
victims and emergency responders as well as a variety of pediatric
vaccines.
* Matching employee donations.
* Continuing to deliver many essential medicines including sleep aids,
antibiotics, heart medications and cancer treatments to those in need.
SCHERING-PLOUGH
* Donated $5 million in medicines and other products.
* $500,000 cash contribution including $150,000 to the Children's Health
Fund.
* Converted 15,000 square feet of office space in Schering-Plough's
Memphis, Tennessee location into a Red Cross "satellite" service center
in partnership with the local Memphis Red Cross office. Hundreds of
families are receiving services at the facility, which will stay open
as long as needed.
* Waiving certain PAP program requirements for patients in affected
areas.
* Company employee match program.
SCHWARZ PHARMA
* Donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross.
* Providing up to $100,000 of free product to support hurricane victims.
* Pledged additional donation to the American Red Cross via employee
match program. Employees have already donated more than $25,000.
SEPRACOR
* Offering a matching gift program.
SERONO
* Offering a matching gift program.
* Assisting employees who have been impacted in the regions of the
hurricane.
* Assessing needs of victims and donating products as necessary.
SOLVAY
* Over $100,000 donated to American Red Cross as part of company's
employee match program.
* Participating in a number of product donation efforts through retailers
and working with alliances to provide prescription drugs to individuals
along the gulf coast. Also donating first aid kits.
TAKEDA
* Cash donation of $200,000 to the American Red Cross.
* Donating products.
* Matching employee contributions.
3M
* Authorized $500,000 in employee matching gifts.
* $1 million in safety, medical and cleaning products (already shipped
over 75,000 respirators).
VALEANT
* Match employee donations.
* Donate appropriate medicines to relief efforts.
* Provide support for any affected employees.
* Allow time off for employees that want to provide assistance.
WYETH
* Donating $1 million, which will be distributed to several organizations
including the American Red Cross and the Children's Health Fund.
* Established two initiatives to help provide access to prescription
medications to victims who have been tragically affected by Hurricane
Katrina.
* Working with major retail pharmacies to provide free replacement
products to hurricane victims. Hundreds of independent pharmacies have
also expressed interest.
* Matching employee donations to the American Red Cross.
* Donating needed pharmaceutical products to relief efforts.
PhRMA
* Matching all employee donations.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology
companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to
live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA members alone
invested an estimated $38.8 billion in 2004 in discovering and developing new
medicines. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures.
PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit:
http://www.innovation.org
For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit:
http://www.pparx.org
For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit:
http://www.buysafedrugs.info
SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
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Related links:
http://www.phrma.org
http://www.innovation.org http://www.pparx.org
http://www.buysafedrugs.info
CONTACT:
Jeff Trewhitt of PhRMA, +1-202-835-3460
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