Masters Speciality Pharma (“Masters”), a UK-headquartered pharmaceutical company specialising in the global distribution of high-quality, life-changing medicines, today announces it has been appointed to be the exclusive UK distributor of Siklos®, for the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
<p>Elstree, 19 June 2019 – <strong>Masters Speciality Pharma</strong> (“Masters”), a UK-headquartered pharmaceutical company specialising in the global distribution of high-quality, life-changing medicines, today announces it has been appointed to be the exclusive UK distributor of Siklos®, for the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Siklos® (hydroxycarbamide) 100mg and 1000mg will be distributed by Masters to hospitals, pharmacies and wholesalers around the UK.</p> <p>SCD is a serious, progressively debilitating and life-threatening genetic disease which manifests from birth. It affects the formation of red blood cells, which become unusually shaped and stick inside blood vessels, causing pain and severe anaemia by depriving cells and organs of oxygenated blood. </p> <p>Siklos® is used to prevent the occurrence of painful vaso-occlusive crises, including acute chest syndrome associated with the disease, and often requiring hospitalisation. The active substance, hydroxycarbamide, acts mainly in increasing the production of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) and prevents red blood cells from forming an abnormal shape (sickling). Via easy to administer 50mg increments, Siklos® offers greater dosage accuracy based on body weight, and is suitable for adults, adolescents, and children older than 2 years. </p> <p>Siklos® was developed by the independent French pharmaceutical company, Addmedica. Masters also has an exclusive License and Distribution agreement for Siklos® for Brazil. Under the terms of the agreement, Masters will be responsible for the regulatory filing of the product with the Brazilian Health authorities and will be the exclusive distributor in the country.</p> <p>With a track record spanning over 30 years, Masters specialises in sourcing medicines from the UK, Europe and US to treat oncology, haematology, pain management and rare and orphan diseases.</p> <p><strong>Commenting on the launch, Dr Zulf Masters OBE, founder and CEO of Masters Speciality Pharma, said</strong>: “Sickle Cell Disease affects a large and growing population across the UK and is devastating for both patients and families. There are currently limited treatment options for this genetic disease. Our mission is to provide lifesaving medicines to patients with orphan and rare diseases, and we are very pleased to be able to bring Siklos® to patients and healthcare professionals in the UK.”</p> <p><em>World Sickle Cell Day, the United Nation’s recognised day to raise awareness of sickle cell at a national and international level, is observed on the 19<sup>th</sup> of June. This year, the Sickle Cell Society will be celebrating 40 years of supporting the sickle cell community. For more information, please visit</em><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/wscd19/&source=gmail&ust=1561060575135000&usg=AFQjCNGw9bnfyqBtt_HFfBsmQx8rZocuUQ" href="https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/wscd19/" target="_blank"><em>https://www.sicklecellsociety.<wbr />org/wscd19/</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p><strong>For further information please contact:</strong></p> <p><strong>Masters Speciality Pharma</strong></p> <p>Lucy Lee</p> <p>Email: <a href="mailto:lucy.lee@masters-sp.com" target="_blank">lucy.lee@masters-sp.com</a></p> <p>Phone: +44 (0)208 327 0900</p> <p><strong>Optimum Strategic Communications</strong></p> <p>Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur, Ellie Blackwell</p> <p>Email: <a href="mailto:masters@optimumcomms.com" target="_blank">masters@optimumcomms.com</a></p> <p>Phone: +44 (0)203 950 9144</p> <p><strong>Notes to Editors:</strong></p> <p><strong>About Masters Speciality Pharma</strong></p> <p>Founded 35 years ago, Masters Speciality Pharma is a privately-owned supplier and distributor of high quality, life changing medicines around the world. It is headquartered in the UK with offices in the United States, El Salvador and Brazil, and offers access to medicines in over 80 countries. Adhering to the highest standards of ethics, quality, regulatory compliance and governance, Masters Speciality Pharma specialises in sourcing medicines from the UK, Europe and US to treat oncology, haematology, pain management and rare and orphan diseases. For further information, please visit <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://masters-sp.com/&source=gmail&ust=1561060575136000&usg=AFQjCNF4WFMzLOAbiL5C8keZQ6laNuwx6w" href="http://masters-sp.com/" target="_blank">http://masters-sp.com/</a>.</p> <p><strong>About Siklos® and Sickle Cell Disease</strong></p> <p>Siklos® is prescribed for the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells. In the course of the disease, some cells become abnormal, rigid and take a crescent or sickle shape, which leads to anaemia (loss of red blood cells). These sickle cells also get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow, and causing acute pain crises and organ damage which require hospitalisation. </p> <p>Siklos® can be used in adults, adolescents and children older than 2 years, and works by reducing the number of painful crises and the number of disease-related hospital admissions. The active substance in Siklos® is hydroxycarbamide acts mainly in increasing the production of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) and decreasing leukocyte count. In addition, hydroxycarbamide helps to prevent red blood cells from taking abnormal shape.</p> <p><strong>About Sickle Cell Disease</strong></p> <p>Sickle cell disorders are a group of illnesses which affect your red blood cells. Sickle cell is a genetic condition, which means it is passed on from your parents and you are born with it; you cannot catch it from other people.</p> <p>Sickle cell disorders causes your normally round and flexible blood cells to become stiff and sickle shaped, stopping the blood cells, and the oxygen they carry, from being able to move freely around the body and causing pain.</p> <p>Sickle cell can affect anyone, although it predominantly affects people from African and Caribbean backgrounds.</p> <ul> <li>Approximately 15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disorder.</li> <li>Approximately 270 babies with SCD are born in the UK every year.</li> <li>1 in 76 babies born in the UK carry sickle cell trait.</li> </ul>
