FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PDL BioPharma, Inc. announced today that in a research survey of U.S. cardiologists and emergency physicians, a considerable number (24%) were unaware of current heart attack treatment guidelines, with a majority (61%) believing that there is a significant opportunity to improve heart attack treatment in the U.S. by improving patient education about early heart attack symptoms and the need to expedite treatment to quickly restore blood flow to the heart. The results of the survey, which was supported by the company, were presented by W. Frank Peacock, M.D., Vice Chief of Emergency Medicine Research at Cleveland Clinic, at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly, taking place October 15-18 in New Orleans, La.
"We found a lack of physician awareness of national treatment guidelines in the U.S., which means many patients may not be receiving the life-saving treatments they need in a timely manner," stated Dr. Peacock. "The goal of heart attack management is to minimize damage to the heart muscle caused by a lack of blood flow stemming from a clogged artery. Each minute that ticks by without treatment translates to more damage, disability and potential death. A systematic, coordinated approach to restoring blood flow to the heart - either mechanically through a balloon angioplasty or through clot-dissolving drug therapy when angioplasty is not possible - is paramount to fixing the system. However, this will only occur if patients learn to properly identify heart attack symptoms when they arise and promptly call 9-1-1 and emergency physicians and cardiologists overcome barriers to work together toward a solution."
The survey showed that a substantial percentage of the survey participants (24% of emergency physicians and cardiologists) were not at all familiar or only somewhat familiar with the 2004 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for the Management of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). The ACC/AHA guidelines focus largely on crucial timing needed to administer both mechanical and pharmacological methods to restore blood flow to the heart while causing as little damage to the patient as possible.
The STEMI guidelines recommend mechanical reperfusion via percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) if a patient can undergo the procedure within 90 minutes of establishing medical contact (known as the door-to-balloon time). If it is deemed that a patient cannot undergo PCI within this 90-minute timeframe, the STEMI guidelines recommend pharmacologic reperfusion via fibrinolytic therapy within 30 minutes (known as the door-to-needle time).
Yet, according to more than half (53%) of the physicians surveyed, fibrinolysis-eligible patients would only sometimes, rarely or never receive a fibrinolytic when the time to PCI exceeds 90 minutes after establishing medical contact. Nearly 70% of the physicians surveyed reported that it is not realistic that STEMI patients can undergo PCI within 90 minutes of medical contact, because in many cases, patients need to be transferred from a non-PCI capable hospital to a PCI-capable hospital. Further, according to one in five physicians, it is not realistic that STEMI patients can undergo PCI within 90 minutes of medical contact even when there is a PCI-capable lab at the initial hospital to which they are transported or present themselves directly.
The company supported this survey as part of its commitment to improving heart attack management in the U.S. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive(R).
About the Harris Interactive(R) Study
This study included interviews with 1,014 U.S. adults ages 18+ who are physicians that either practice primarily in a hospital setting or have admitting privileges at a hospital, including 505 cardiologists and 509 emergency medicine physicians. Data are weighted to be representative of their respective populations: the total combined population of cardiologists and emergency medicine physicians, as well as the individual populations of cardiologists and emergency medicine physicians. The sampling error for the total sample of cardiologists and emergency medicine physicians (n=1,014) is +/- 3.4 percentage points. The sampling error for the sample of cardiologists (n=505) is +/- 5.1 percentage points. The sampling error for the sample of emergency medicine physicians (509) is +/- 4.6 percentage points. All surveys were conducted online between December 8 and December 16, 2005 and averaged 15 minutes in length. Respondents were recruited using the AMA Master File. Potential physicians were mailed an alert letter that included an URL link and individual password for the survey.
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.
About PDL BioPharma
PDL BioPharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies for severe or life- threatening illnesses. The company currently markets and sells a portfolio of leading products in the acute-care hospital setting in the United States and Canada and generates royalties through licensing agreements with top-tier biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies based on its pioneering antibody humanization technology. Currently, PDL's diverse product pipeline includes investigational compounds in Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical development for inflammation and autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disorders and cancer. The company's research platform is focused on the discovery and development of antibodies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. For more information, please see PDL's website at www.pdl.com.
PDL BioPharma and the PDL BioPharma logo are considered trademarks of PDL BioPharma, Inc.
PDL BioPharma, Inc.CONTACT: Ami Knoefler, Corporate and Investor Relations, +1-510-284-8851or ami.knoefler@pdl.com, or Jean Suzuki, Product Communications,+1-510-574-1550 or jean.suzuki@pdl.com, both of PDL BioPharma, Inc.
Web site: http://www.pdl.com/
