SUFFERN, N.Y., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with the National Senior Games Association for its hyaluronic acid therapy, EUFLEXXA(TM) (1% sodium hyaluronate), to serve as an exclusive sponsor of the Summer National Senior Games -- The Senior Olympics Presented by Humana. The 2007 Summer National Senior Games will be held from June 22 - July 7 in Louisville, KY.
"Our goal is to educate people about knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the available treatment options, while supporting those who live with it everyday," said William Garbarini, Executive Director for Sales and Marketing, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. "What better way to promote active aging than to be part of an event as important as the Senior Games."
Representing EUFLEXXA(TM) at the Senior Games will be 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist, Bruce Jenner. Jenner, who suffers from the pain of knee OA, was the first person in the United States to be treated with EUFLEXXA(TM). He now serves as the national spokesperson for the product and travels the country speaking to physicians and patients about his experience with OA. "Osteoarthritis prevents so many people from being active," said Jenner. "I'm lucky that I found pain relief through EUFLEXXA(TM) and can continue doing the things that I love. I encourage those who suffer from knee OA pain to talk to their doctors about their treatment options."
"We are thrilled to welcome EUFLEXXA(TM) to the NSGA family," said Phil Godfrey, President and Chief Executive Officer of NSGA. "Ferring believes in offering patients the best possible treatment options and EUFLEXXA(TM) represents their commitment to healthy aging. We appreciate their support of our active aging programs, where the participant experience is foremost in our minds."
EUFLEXXA(TM), the first and only non-avian hyaluronic acid (HA) approved in the U.S. for the treatment of the pain caused by knee osteoarthritis (OA), received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 3, 2004, and became available to the public on November 8, 2005. For more information, visit www.EUFLEXXA.com .
The Summer National Senior Games is the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors 50 and over. The event takes place over 16 days and features 18 sports. In 2007, the event is expected to draw more than 12,000 athletes and 45,000 guests.
About EUFLEXXA(TM)
EUFLEXXA(TM) (1% sodium hyaluronate) is the first and only non-avian derived hyaluronic acid approved in the U.S. for the treatment of pain caused by knee osteoarthritis and is indicated for a three-injection treatment regimen for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative non-pharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics. Since it is not derived from an avian source (chicken or rooster combs), the risk of related reactions is eliminated.[1,2] In addition, EUFLEXXA(TM) has properties similar to the HA in healthy human synovial fluid and is free of chemical cross-linking which minimizes the risk of related reactions.[1-6]
EUFLEXXA(TM) received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 3, 2004, and became available to the public on November 8, 2005. For more information, visit www.EUFLEXXA.com .
About the National Senior Games Association
A not-for-profit member of the United States Olympic Committee, the National Senior Games Association is dedicated to motivating senior men and women to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.
The NSGA governs the Summer National Senior Games -- The Senior Olympics, the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors, and other national senior athletic events.
Serving as an umbrella for member state organizations across the United States that host State Senior Games or Senior Olympics, the NSGA supports and sanctions these member state organizations so that adults can participate in their state in events year-round, helping keep them motivated to achieve greater value and quality in their lives by staying healthy, active and fit.
The NSGA works with state and federal agencies, colleges and universities to better understand and support healthy aging initiatives for seniors and partners with national leaders committed to senior health, wellness and quality of life.
The NSGA is committed to providing information to support education and research initiatives enabling senior athletes and others to be better informed about ways to ensure healthy aging.
[1] Schiavinato A, Finesso M, Cortivo R, & Abatangelo G (2002). Comparison of the effects of intra-articular injections of Hyaluronan and its chemically cross-linked derivative (Hylan G-F20) in normal rabbit knee joints. Clin Exp Rheumatol 20, 445-454. [2] Goomer RS, Leslie K, Maris T, & Amiel D (2005). Native hyaluronan produces less hypersensitivity than cross-linked hyaluronan. Clin Orthop Relat Res 239-245. [3] Leopold SS, Warme WJ, Pettis PD, & Shott S (2002). Increased frequency of acute local reaction to intra-articular hylan GF-20 (synvisc) in patients receiving more than one course of treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A, 1619-1623. [4] Puttick MP, Wade JP, Chalmers A, Connell DG, & Rangno KK (1995). Acute local reactions after intraarticular hylan for osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol 22, 1311-1314. [5] Pullman-Mooar S, Mooar P, Sieck M, Clayburne G, & Schumacher HR (2002). Are there distinctive inflammatory flares after hylan g-f 20 intraarticular injections? J Rheumatol 29, 2611-2614. [6] Chen AL, Desai P, Adler EM, & Di Cesare PE (2002). Granulomatous inflammation after Hylan G-F 20 viscosupplementation of the knee : a report of six cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A, 1142-1147.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.CONTACT: Tara Fisher of Kovak-Likly Communications for FerringPharmaceuticals Inc., +1-203-762-8833, tfisher@KLCpr.com
Web site: http://www.EUFLEXXA.com/
