"MDIs are most often used as rescue medications during acute attacks. Improper dosing and other misuses can lead to negative outcomes, such as the exacerbation of symptoms and even hospitalization," says Gary Cantrell, TEAMM Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "But with MD Turbo physicians will be able to prescribe their drug of choice in combination with an easy to use, handheld, breath-activated device to overcome the delivery challenges often facing their patients."
According to three independent studies spanning more than 10 years, greater than 50% of patients using traditional press-and-breathe MDIs to control asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), regardless of age or MDI experience, cannot successfully coordinate the press-and-breathe action necessary for drug delivery to the lungs.1,2,3 Further, at least one additional study showed that more than 70% of MDI users do not know the number of doses remaining in their inhalers at a given time.4
"MDIs have been around for about 50 years. But MD Turbo is the first companion product to solve two of the biggest challenges facing MDI users: coordination of inhaler actuation with patient's breath, and the accounting of how much medication is left in the inhaler," says Gil Mott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Respirics Inc. "We are all very excited about introducing a new product to the market that can improve the quality of care."
More than 40 million MDIs are prescribed each year in the United States alone.
MD Turbo will be available by prescription only. For more information, visit www.mdturbo.com.
About Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of late-stage clinical products in the therapeutic areas of respiratory disease and oncology. Two of these products are SinuNase and BiovaxID. The Company's SinuNase product, in development to treat chronic sinusitis (rhinosinusitis), is a novel application and formulation of a known anti-fungal licensed from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. BiovaxID is a patient-specific anti-cancer vaccine focusing on the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkins' lymphoma. BiovaxID, which is being developed by Accentia's subsidiary Biovest International, Inc., is currently in a Phase 3 clinical trial. In addition, Accentia's growing specialty pharmaceutical business, TEAMM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a portfolio of currently marketed products plus a pipeline of additional products under development by third parties. For further information, please visit our web site: www.accentia.net.
About Respirics, Inc.
Respirics Inc. is a leading pulmonary drug delivery and development company located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company has two proprietary delivery platforms, MD Turbo for use with metered dose inhalers, and Acu-Breathe single and multi-dose dry powder inhalers. Respirics partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, bringing proprietary drug delivery technology together with formulation expertise to develop products for commercialization. For more information, visit www.respirics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about MD Turbo and any other statements relating to products, product candidates, and product development programs. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as "may," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results of Accentia to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval for product candidates; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and the additional risks discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Accentia does not undertake any obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
1.Pederson S, Frost L, Arnfred T. Errors in inhalation technique and efficiency in inhaler use in asthmatic children. Allergy. 1986;46: 118-124.
2.Crompton GK. Problems patients have using pressurized aerosol inhalers. Eur J Respir Dis. 1982;63(suppl 119):101-104.
3.Chapman KR, Love L, Brubaker H. A comparison of breath-actuated and conventional metered-dose inhaler inhalation techniques in elderly subjects. Chest.1993;104(5):1332-1336.
4.Rubin BK, Durotoye L. How do patients determine that their metered-dose inhaler is empty? Chest. 2004; 126: 1134-1137.
Contact:
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Sherran Brewer
866-481-9020
sbrewer@accentia.net
or
Investor Relations
The Investor Relations Group
Adam Holdsworth
212-825-3210
aholdsworth@investorrelationsgroup.com
or
Public Relations
The Investor Relations Group
Lynn Granito or Kevin Murphy
212-825-3210
lgranito@investorrelationsgroup.com