TITUSVILLE, N.J., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- It lies within the compact folded rectangle that accompanies prescription medicines. In black and white on paper, it follows prescription medicine advertisements in magazines and newspapers. Known as patient information, it is frequently part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved labeling for prescription medicines.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/janssen/55762
For many, it can be an important everyday resource to learn what they need to know about the medication they are taking--what it does, how to take it, possible drug interactions, serious side effects and symptoms that might be signs of a side effect.
To enhance patients’ access to and use of this information, Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP has launched a pilot program--and a first for the Johnson & Johnson family of companies--designed to transform the experience of exploring this information online through digital storytelling and animation.
This new tool, for the prescription medicine PREZISTA® (darunavir), is called The PREZISTA Zone and can be found at www.PREZISTAzone.com. It enables users to read, listen to and interact with information about the product. Features include:
- A selection of eight animated hosts who serve as site guides and narrate the Patient Information.
- The story of Jacob, a man who has just been diagnosed with a chronic disease, told through a series of seven animated clips that help illustrate sections of the Patient Information.
- In the first episode, Jacob attends a disease support group session and learns how PREZISTA works.
- In subsequent clips, he visits his physician to learn about medicines that should not be taken with PREZISTA, and visits his pharmacist who reviews the possible side effects of PREZISTA.
“As a physician, I know from experience that people tend to learn in different ways, and that can pose different kinds of challenges for patients trying to educate themselves about their medications,” said Bryan Baugh, MD, Medical Director at Janssen Therapeutics. “We designed The PREZISTA Zone to meet a variety of personal preferences for learning and interacting with online information. We’re very excited to introduce this pilot program; it hasn’t been done before for products like PREZISTA.”
In a recent omnibus survey of 1,047 people, which was sponsored by Janssen Therapeutics, 60 percent of those surveyed agreed it would be helpful to review Patient Information in an animated version that can be viewed and listened to online.[1]
“When you have a chronic illness, starting treatment for the first time or switching your medication can sometimes be overwhelming,” said Jeff Berry,* Director of Publications, Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) in Chicago. “This interactive version of Patient Information is an innovative approach to helping people learn about their medicines based on information from the FDA-approved patient labeling. I hope this initiative will encourage the development of other educational tools that go beyond the printed page.”
*Jeff Berry is a paid consultant for Janssen Therapeutics.
About PREZISTA®
PREZISTA® (darunavir) is a prescription medicine. It is one treatment option in the class of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) medicines known as protease inhibitors.
PREZISTA® is always taken with and at the same time as ritonavir (Norvir®), in combination with other HIV medicines for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. PREZISTA® should also be taken with food.
- The use of other medicines active against HIV in combination with PREZISTA®/ritonavir (Norvir®) may increase your ability to fight HIV. Your healthcare professional will work with you to find the right combination of HIV medicines
- It is important that you remain under the care of your healthcare professional during treatment with PREZISTA®
PREZISTA® does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA®.
Please read Important Safety Information below, and talk to your healthcare professional to learn if PREZISTA® is right for you.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA?
- PREZISTA® can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects. See “Who should not take PREZISTA®?”
- PREZISTA® may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA®, together with Norvir® (ritonavir), have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening. Your healthcare professional should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA®. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare professional should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems
- Tell your healthcare professional if you have any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems: dark (tea-colored) urine, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, pale-colored stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs, or loss of appetite
- PREZISTA® may cause a severe or life-threatening skin reaction or rash. Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare professional immediately if you develop a rash. However, stop taking PREZISTA® and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare professional immediately if you develop any skin changes with these symptoms: fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, blisters or skin lesions, mouth sores or ulcers, red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye.” Rash occurred more often in patients taking PREZISTA® and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild
Who should not take PREZISTA®?
- Do not take PREZISTA® if you are taking the following medicines: alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.45®, Embolex®, Migranal®), ergonovine, ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®), methylergonovine, cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), oral midazolam, triazolam (Halcion®), the herbal supplement St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), lovastatin (Mevacor®, Altoprev®, Advicor®), simvastatin (Zocor®, Simcor®, Vytorin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®), sildenafil (Revatio®) when used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, indinavir (Crixivan®), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®), saquinavir (Invirase®), or telaprevir (Incivek)
- Before taking PREZISTA®, tell your healthcare professional if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra®, Revatio®), vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), tadalafil (Cialis®, Adcirca®), atorvastatin (Lipitor®), rosuvastatin (Crestor®), pravastatin (Pravachol®), or colchicine (Colcrys®, Col-Probenecid®). Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA® might reduce the effectiveness of estrogen-based contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control, such as condoms
This is not a complete list of medicines. Be sure to tell your healthcareprofessional about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, includingprescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA®?
- Before taking PREZISTA®, tell your healthcare professional if you have any medical conditions, including liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), allergy to sulfa medicines, diabetes, or hemophilia
- Tell your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- The effects of PREZISTA® on pregnant women or their unborn babies are not known. You and your healthcare professional will need to decide if taking PREZISTA® is right for you
- Do not breastfeed. It is not known if PREZISTA® can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to your baby in the breast milk
What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA®?
- High blood sugar, diabetes or worsening of diabetes, and increased bleeding in people with hemophilia have been reported in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines, including PREZISTA®
- Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking HIV medicines, including PREZISTA®. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time
- Changes in your immune system can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden
- The most common side effects related to taking PREZISTA® include diarrhea, nausea, rash, headache, stomach pain, and vomiting. This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you experience these or other side effects, talk to your healthcare professional. Do not stop taking PREZISTA® or any other medicines without first talking to your healthcare professional
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please refer to the ritonavir (Norvir®) Product Information (PI and PPI) for additional information on precautionary measures.
Please see full Prescribing Information for more details, available at http://prezista.com/sites/default/files/pdf/us_package_insert.pdf
About Janssen Therapeutics
At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in HIV and other infectious diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people throughout the world. Headquartered in Titusville, New Jersey, Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, is one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Visit www.JanssenTherapeutics.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter at @JanssenUS.
Reference: 1. About The Survey: This Janssen Therapeutics study was conducted by StrategyOne using Toluna field services, among 1,047 US residents. The survey was fielded April 9th 11th, 2012 and the data were weighted to be representative to US Census. These data have a margin of error +- 3.03% at the 95% confidence interval.
Media Contact: | Tricia Geoghegan |
Office: (609) 730-3746 | |
Mobile: (609) 462-8764 | |
Email: tgeogheg@its.jnj.com |
SOURCE Janssen Therapeutics
