DUBLIN, Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc
(NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, is proud to
be a Gold sponsor of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's (AFA)
"15th Anniversary National Educating America Tour." This tour
commemorates AFA's15 years of educating individuals about
Alzheimer's and the availability of services and programs. The tour
will include AFA's free Concepts in Care Educational Conferences,
free memory screenings and displays of the AFA Quilt to
Remember.
The educational conferences will provide individuals throughout
the nation the opportunity to learn from leading dementia and
caregiver experts about topics including access to healthcare,
transitioning from home to residential care setting, safeguarding
the home, long-term care, perceptions of aging, and clinical trials
and research.
"We are excited to be a Gold sponsor of the 15th Anniversary
Educating America Tour," said Will
Kane, senior vice president marketing, U.S. General Medicine
at Allergan. "As a leader in this space, Allergan is committed to
the development of treatments for Alzheimer's Disease and to
education about the disease, which is why this partnership is so
important to us."
The tour kicks off February 22, in
San Francisco, Calif. and
continues through late October 2017
visiting Las Vegas, Nev.;
West Palm Beach, Fla.;
Birmingham, Ala.; New York, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Franklin, Tenn.; Durham, N.C.; Washington, D.C.;
Melville, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; and Boston, Mass.
"Our organization was founded by a caregiver to be the resource
his family did not have when dementia entered their lives," said
Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA's
president and chief executive officer. "With this tour, we hope to
educate thousands of people across the country, and it is only with
the help of generous sponsors like Allergan that we are able to do
that."
Currently, more than 5 million Americans are living with
Alzheimer's disease and that number is expected to nearly triple by
the year 2050. It is estimated that more than 15 million people
have provided informal care (care provided by friends and family)
to people living with Alzheimer's Disease.
Allergan is the manufacturer of NAMZARIC® (memantine and
donepezil hydrochlorides) extended-release capsules, for patients
with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, who are currently
stabilized on Aricept, donepezil hydrochloride (10 mg).
For more information about NAMZARIC, visit www.Namzaric.com.
For more information about the Educating America Tour, visit
www.alzfdn.org or for additional resources visit
www.caringforalzheimers.net
About NAMZARIC®
NAMZARIC is a once-daily, fixed-dose combination of memantine
hydrochloride, a NMDA receptor antagonist, and donepezil
hydrochloride, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor indicated for the
treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type in
patients stabilized on 10 mg of donepezil HCl once daily
Memantine hydrochloride extended-release is the active
ingredient in the currently marketed NAMENDA XR®, which
is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of
the Alzheimer's type. Donepezil is the active ingredient in
ARICEPT® (donepezil hydrochloride), which is indicated
for the treatment of mild to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's
type. Allergan and Adamas collaborated on the development of the
fixed-dose combination and Allergan owns the exclusive U.S.
commercialization rights, while Adamas will retain exclusive
commercialization rights outside of the U.S.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CONTRAINDICATIONS
NAMZARIC is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity
to memantine hydrochloride, donepezil hydrochloride, piperidine
derivatives, or to any excipients used in the formulation.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Anesthesia
NAMZARIC is likely to exaggerate succinylcholine-type muscle
relaxation during anesthesia.
Cardiovascular Conditions
NAMZARIC may have vagotonic effects on the sinoatrial and
atrioventricular nodes manifesting as bradycardia or heart block.
Bradycardia or heart block may manifest in patients both with and
without known underlying cardiac conduction abnormalities. Syncopal
episodes have been reported in association with the use of
donepezil hydrochloride, an active ingredient in NAMZARIC.
Peptic Ulcer Disease and Gastrointestinal
Bleeding
Patients treated with NAMZARIC should be monitored closely for
symptoms of active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding, especially
those at increased risk for developing ulcers, those with a history
of ulcer disease, or those receiving concurrent nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Nausea and Vomiting
NAMZARIC can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Although in most
cases, these effects have been mild and transient, sometimes
lasting one to three weeks, and have resolved during continued use
of donepezil hydrochloride, patients should be observed closely at
the initiation of treatment.
Genitourinary Conditions
NAMZARIC may cause bladder outflow obstructions. Conditions that
raise urine pH may decrease the urinary elimination of memantine,
an active ingredient in NAMZARIC, resulting in increased plasma
levels of memantine.
Seizures
Cholinomimetics, including donepezil hydrochloride, are believed to
have some potential to cause generalized convulsions. However,
seizure activity also may be a manifestation of Alzheimer's
disease.
Pulmonary Conditions
Cholinesterase inhibitors should be prescribed with care to
patients with a history of asthma or obstructive pulmonary
disease.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
- The most common adverse reactions, occurring at a frequency of
at least 5% in patients taking memantine hydrochloride
extended-release 28 mg/day, and greater than placebo, were headache
(6% vs 5%), diarrhea (5% vs 4%), and dizziness (5% vs 1%).
- The most common adverse reactions, occurring at a frequency of
at least 5% in patients taking donepezil, and at twice or more the
rate of placebo, were diarrhea (10% vs 4%), anorexia (8% vs 4%),
vomiting (8% vs 4%), nausea (6% vs 2%), and ecchymosis (5% vs
2%).
DRUG INTERACTIONS
- Alterations of urine pH toward the alkaline condition may lead
to an accumulation of memantine with a possible increase in adverse
reactions. NAMZARIC should be used with caution under conditions
that may be associated with increased urine pH including
alterations by diet, drugs, and the clinical state of the
patient.
- The combined use of memantine hydrochloride with other NMDA
antagonists (amantadine, ketamine, and dextromethorphan) has not
been systematically evaluated and such use should be approached
with caution.
- Inhibitors of CYP450, 3A4 (eg,
ketoconazole) and 2D6 (eg, quinidine), inhibit donepezil metabolism
in vitro. Whether there is a clinical effect of quinidine is
not known.
- Inducers of CYP3A4 (eg, phenytoin, carbamazepine,
dexamethasone, rifampin, and phenobarbital) could increase the rate
of elimination of donepezil.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil hydrochloride,
have the potential to interfere with the activity of
anticholinergic medications.
- A synergistic effect may be expected when cholinesterase
inhibitors, including donepezil hydrochloride, are given
concurrently with succinylcholine, similar neuromuscular blocking
agents, or cholinergic agonists such as bethanechol.
About Allergan plc
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global
pharmaceutical company. Allergan is focused on developing,
manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceuticals, devices
and biologic products for patients around the world.
Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class
products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical
aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health,
urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.
Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the
Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying
and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better
patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one
of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical
industry with 70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in
development.
Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global
colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build
bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers
and patients around the world by always doing what is right.
With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries,
Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare
providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful
treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier
lives every day.
For more information, visit Allergan's website
at www.Allergan.com.
About Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA)
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America, based in New York, is a non-profit organization that
unites more than 2,600 member organizations nationwide in the goal
of providing optimal care and services to individuals living with
dementia, and to their caregivers and families. Its services
include a national, toll-free helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by
licensed social workers, educational conferences and materials, a
free quarterly magazine for caregivers, the National Memory
Screening Program, and "AFA Partners in Care" dementia care
training for healthcare professionals.
For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit
www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter, or connect with us on
Facebook or LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements contained in this press release that refer to future
events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements
that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing
trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as
expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent
or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual
results may differ materially from Allergan's current
expectations depending upon a number of factors
affecting Allergan's business. These factors include,
among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome
of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of
competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and
continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or
delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed
in Allergan's periodic public filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not
limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (certain of
such periodic public filings having been filed under the "Actavis
plc" name). Except as expressly required by
law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.
CONTACTS:
Investor:
Allergan
Lisa Defrancesco
(862) 261 7152
Media:
Allergan
Fran DeSena
(973) 517-3132
Mark Marmur
(862) 261-7558
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SOURCE Allergan plc