Teva Canada Announces New Autoinjector for AJOVY® for the Preventive Treatment of Migraine in Adults
AJOVY® now offers patients greater flexibility with two dosing options available in both an autoinjector and a prefilled syringe
AJOVY® is the first and only subcutaneous anti-CGRP treatment with both quarterly (every three months) and monthly dosing options using either the autoinjector or prefilled syringe for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.
AJOVY® is supported by the AJOVY® Teva Support Solutions® (AJOVY® TSS) Patient Support Program, whose services include reimbursement navigation, bridging/copay coverage, and injection training.
AJOVY® has been studied in patients with either chronic or episodic migraine and was shown to significantly reduce patients' mean monthly migraine days—with some patients achieving a 50% reduction or more.1,2,3
MONTRÉAL, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Teva Canada, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., today announced the launch and availability of a new autoinjector for AJOVY® (fremanezumab). AJOVY® is a subcutaneous injection for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month. When launched in 2020, AJOVY® was available in a prefilled syringe only. The product is now available in two latex-free1 formats: a new autoinjector and a prefilled syringe.
AJOVY® now offers patients greater flexibility with two dosing options available in both an autoinjector and a prefilled syringe.
AJOVY® is the first and only product in its class that is available in multiple formats, providing two unique injection devices and two optional dosing regimens. It is also the first and only subcutaneous anti-CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) drug approved in Canada, the European Union, and the United States that offers quarterly (225 mg) or monthly (675 mg) dosing regimens using either the autoinjector or prefilled syringe for the preventive treatment of migraine.1,2,3The new AJOVY® autoinjector also has several features that make it easy-to-use4 including a button-free, push-down mechanism; audible cues that signal progress of administration; and, a window that displays when the dose has been delivered. Additionally, the autoinjector is for one-time use only and locks after use.
"Migraine patients are highly individual—not all want the same device. At Teva Canada, we believe in the power of choice and we believe that options are important for patients and prescribers," says Christine Poulin, Teva Canada's General Manager. "From the beginning, AJOVY® has offered flexible dosing options. With the launch of this new device, AJOVY® now also offers different injection options. I see AJOVY® as a complete package of care, with injection training and other support delivered through our AJOVY® Teva Support Solutions® (AJOVY® TSS) Patient Support Program."
"For many Canadians, migraine is a debilitating regular occurrence that greatly impacts a patient's ability to carry out day-to-day functions. Having another option in the AJOVY® family of treatments allows patients to manage their condition to suit their lifestyle," said Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, President of the Canadian Headache Society and Founder of the websites Migraine Quebec and Migraine Canada. "Recent changes in the field of migraine treatment have opened a lot of doors; this new injection option with flexible dosing opens yet another one for patients and health care providers who manage migraine."
Migraine is a disabling chronic neurological disease that causes head pain so severe that sufferers often cannot function during an attack. Migraine reduces quality of life and disrupts migraineurs' ability to perform daily activities.5,6It is among the top 10 causes of disability worldwide and the seventh cause of years of life lost to disability.7,8,9 In Canada, migraine is most common in women and most common between the ages of 30 and 49.10Migraine therefore reduces patients' quality of life, ability to work, and overall productivity right at the prime of their life. While acute treatment modalities are used to treat migraine attacks when they occur, they do not prevent them. Novel treatments like AJOVY® were specifically designed to actually prevent migraine from occurring.
AJOVY® was evaluated in two pivotal Phase III clinical trials that enrolled patients with disabling migraine and studied fremanezumab as a prophylactic treatment. For patients with chronic migraine, 40.8 per cent taking the monthly dose and 37.6 per cent taking the quarterly dose experienced more than a 50 per cent reduction in monthly average headache days of at least moderate severity.11 For patients with episodic migraine, 47.7 per cent taking the monthly dose and 44.4 per cent taking the quarterly dose experienced more than a 50 per cent reduction in monthly average number of migraine days.12 The safety profile was also assessed.1,2,3AJOVY® has been studied in patients with chronic or episodic migraine and was shown to significantly reduce patients' mean monthly migraine days—with some patients achieving a 50% reduction or more.1,2,3
About AJOVY®
AJOVY® (fremanezumab) is indicated for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month. AJOVY® is available as a 225 mg/1.5 mL single-dose injection in an autoinjector or prefilled syringe with two dosing options: 225 mg monthly, administered as one subcutaneous injection; or 675 mg every three months (quarterly), administered as three subcutaneous injections. AJOVY® is intended for patient self-administration after the patient or their caretaker has been trained to administer the product. AJOVY® patients and prescribers are supported by the AJOVY® Teva Support Solutions® Patient Support Program.
About Teva Canada
Teva Canada, headquartered in Toronto, has provided affordable healthcare solutions to Canadians for over 50 years, building their trust one prescription at a time with now more than 192,00013 prescriptions filled each day with our products, representing 1 of every 8 generic prescriptions in Canada14. Originally Novopharm Limited, Teva Canada specializes in the development, production, and marketing of high-quality generic prescription pharmaceuticals and, through our branded division, focuses on a diverse line of speciality and biopharmaceutical products in a variety of therapeutic areas such as central nervous system (CNS), respiratory, oncology and rheumatology. Teva Canada's commitment to helping improve the lives of Canadians also extends to the Teva Caregiver program – providing tools and resources for Canadians navigating the care journey. Teva Canada employs more than 900 professionals, had sales of nearly $1.1 billion15 in 2020, and markets more than 36016 products in over 840 SKUs16 in Canada. We are a proud subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Learn more at www.tevacanada.com.
About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people's lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.
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CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide; SKU: Stock Keeping Unit
Dodick DW et al. Effect of fremanezumab compared with placebo for prevention of episodic migraine. JAMA. 2018;319(19):1999–2008. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.4853.
3.
Silberstein SD et al. Fremanezumab for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(22):2113–2122. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1709038.
4.
Two Human Factor studies assessed evaluators' ability to complete critical tasks in order to demonstrate use of the AJOVY Autoinjector in simulated-use sessions. When asked "Was the autoinjector easy to use?", 97% in study 1 (N=30) and 98% in study 2 (N=47) answered "Yes." Data on file, Parsippany, NJ Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
5.
Buse DC, Rupnow MF, Lipton RB. Assessing and managing all aspects of migraine: migraine attacks, migraine-related functional impairment, common comorbidities, and quality of life. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84:422–435. doi: 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60561-2.
6.
Lipton RB, Liberman JN, Kolodner KB, et al. Migraine headache disability and health-related quality-of-life: a population-based case-control study from England. Cephalalgia. 2003;23:441–450. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00546.x.
Global Burden of Disease Study Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2015;386:743–800. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4.
9.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global burden of disease visualization tools. Available from: http://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-compare/. Accessed January 2016.
10.
Ramage-Morin PL, Gilmour H. Prevalence of migraine in the Canadian household population. Health Rep. 2014;25(6):10–16.
11.
Adapted from product monograph. Includes all randomized patients who received at least 1 dose of study drug and had at least 10 days of post-baseline efficacy assessments on the primary endpoint. A fixed-sequence (hierarchical) testing procedure was implemented to control the Type 1 error rate at 0.05. The p values were based on the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test stratified by baseline preventive medication use (yes/no). The early discontinued patients were considered as non-responders for overall analysis. Defined as a day in which headache pain lasted ≥ 4 consecutive hours and had a peak severity of at least a moderate level or days in which acute migraine–specific medication (triptans or ergots) was used to treat a headache of any severity or duration.2- Reference 2: Silberstein SD, Dodick DW, Bigal ME, et al.Fremanezumab for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. NEJM. 2017;377(22):2113–2122.
12.
Adapted from product monograph. Includes all randomized patients who received at least 1 dose of study drug and had at least 10 days of post-baseline efficacy assessments on the primary endpoint. A fixed-sequence (hierarchical) testing procedure was implemented to control the Type 1 error rate at 0.05. The p values were based on the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test stratified by baseline preventive medication use (yes/no). The early discontinued patients were considered as non-responders for overall analysis. Defined as a calendar day with either ≥ 2 consecutive hours of headache meeting criteria for migraine; probable migraine; or a day, regardless of duration, when acute migraine–specific medication (triptans or ergots) was used to treat a headache.3 - Reference 3: Dodick DW, Silberstein SD, Bigal ME, et al. Effect of fremanezumab compared with placebo for prevention of episodic migraine. JAMA. 2018;319(19):1999–2008.
13.
Source: IQVIA CDH Compuscript TRx MAT Dec 2020
14.
Source: IQVIA Compuscript Trx MAT 2020.12
15.
Source: IQVIA CDH & Compuscript MAT Dec 2020
16.
Source: Teva Price list March 2, 2021
SOURCE Teva Canada
Laurent Pharmaceuticals Provides Clinical Development Update
Announces Positive Outcome of Pre-Planned Interim DSMB Safety Review and Futility Analysis for Phase 2 RESOLUTION Study in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Completes Enrollment in Phase 2 APPLAUD Study in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Topline Results Expected in H2 2021 for both RESOLUTION and APPLAUD Studies
MONTREAL, April 8, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Laurent Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class pro-resolving drug LAU-7b, today announces that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for the Phase 2 RESOLUTION study in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 unanimously recommended to continue the study without modification following a pre-scheduled safety review and mid-study interim futility analysis of unblinded efficacy data from the first 102 patients treated in the study. The company also reports the completion of enrollment in its Phase 2 APPLAUD study in adult patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
"We are thrilled to have met these important milestones confirming we are heading in the right direction, with both studies expecting topline results in the second half of 2021," said Radu Pislariu, MD, President and CEO of Laurent Pharmaceuticals. "Despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic, we continued our lead clinical program in CF, started a new Phase 2 trial in COVID-19 and scaled-up manufacturing for Phase 3 clinical development, while securing sufficient funding for current operations through 2022. All in all, it was an exciting year of clinical advancement for the company and we cannot be more grateful for the support received from our investors, US CF Foundation, and both Canada and Quebec governments."
LAU-7b is a novel oral form of fenretinide, an atypical retinoid that acts on fatty acid desaturases to modulate key membrane lipids that play central roles in inflammation and the immune defense. LAU-7b was initially developed for its potential to trigger the resolution phase of inflammation, a natural mechanism that keeps the inflammatory response under control, without inducing immune-suppression (a "pro-resolving" effect). More recently, fenretinide was shown to have antiviral activity in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 and synergistic potential when combined with remdesivir, evocative of different mechanism than typical antivirals.
"With viral mutations increasing uncertainty around coronavirus persistence and seasonality, the need for effective therapeutics against COVID-19 disease is more important than ever," continued Dr. Pislariu. "Because fenretinide targets the human host cell membrane lipids involved in both viral replication and immune-inflammatory responses, its activity is expected to be maintained regardless of the coronavirus variants and be complementary to virus-specific antivirals such as remdesivir. LAU-7b has a well-established safety profile, a convenient once-a-day oral administration, and potential for a dual antiviral and inflammation-controlling mechanism of action, which bears the promise of a treatment candidate addressing multiple key contributors to the severity of COVID-19."
About Phase 2 RESOLUTION trial
RESOLUTION is placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial with LAU-7b as a potential treatment against COVID-19 disease, aiming to demonstrate that LAU-7b is a safe and effective treatment option for hospitalized COVID-19 patients that are at risk of lung complications because of their age, underlying conditions or both. The study is expected to enroll 220 in hospitals across the United States and Canada, for a treatment duration of 14 days. RESOLUTION, which follows the FDA and WHO recommendations, will measure the disease progression on a 7-point ordinal scale to inform the primary and secondary endpoints of the study. The study also evaluates the duration of hospitalization and improvement in quality of life. More details about the study can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT04417257).
About Phase 2 APPLAUD trial
APPLAUD is a placebo-controlled Phase 2 study of the efficacy and safety of LAU-7b in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis in adults, aiming to evaluate LAU-7b's effect on the resolution of inflammation and preservation of lung function. A number of 166 patients were enrolled at hospital sites across Canada, the United States and Australia, for a treatment duration of 6 months. The study measures the lung function at 24 weeks, pulmonary exacerbations, quality of life, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection level, systemic inflammatory and lipidomic biomarkers. More details about the study can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT03265288).
About Laurent Pharmaceuticals
Laurent Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on life-threatening inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The company's lead drug candidate, LAU-7b, is a unique, patent-protected oral formulation of fenretinide, ideally applicable to a once-a-day low-dose treatment regimen. Fenretinide is an investigational retinoid that has a well-documented safety profile established in more than 3,000 patients, in various indications. LAU-7b is currently being evaluated in two Phase 2 clinical trials, in Cystic Fibrosis and COVID-19. For more information, please visit www.laurentpharma.com.
SOURCE Laurent Pharmaceuticals
The Ontario Brain Institute Announces a New Class of ONtrepreneurs in Partnership with the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation
OBI's ONtrepreneurs Program celebrates a decade of innovation in brain health
Launched in 2012, the OBI ONtrepreneurs Program is Canada's single largest award for early-stage neurotech entrepreneurs, providing an investment of $50,000, 12 months of training opportunities, one-on-one mentorship and support in order to help kick-start and grow promising neurotech ventures.
Through the OBI ONtrepreneurs Program, innovative ideas are taken from the lab and brought to life to help people with brain disorders live better lives. OBI has provided over $3M in funding over the last ten years, supported a total of 61 ONtrepreneurs, and delivered 20 products to market. These neurotech products support the treatment, care, and diagnoses of brain disorders like depression, autism and dementia. Leveraging the OBI network of partners and collaborators, OBI ONtrepreneurs were able to secure $106M in follow-on investments which is nearly 35x the return on investment made by OBI.
Welcoming the 2021 ONtrepreneurs:
Ahmad Al-Kabbany, VRapeutic - A software house specializing in the development of rehabilitation solutions for children and young adults, with a current focus on virtual reality for learning, mental, and developmental disorders
Andre Bertram, HelpWear - HeartWatch is an ECG monitor worn on a patient's bicep to detect minor and major heart condition and contacts healthcare professionals when needed.
Michael Lee, MINT Memory Clinic - Improving the lives of people living with dementia through delivery of complete compassionate healthcare close to home.
Amanda Manget, Xpan – A proprietary expandable port technology for maximizing the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive neurosurgery.
"Ontario has established itself as a global leader in producing remarkable neurotech innovations – and these innovations are directly supporting people living with brain disorders," says Tom Mikkelsen, President & Scientific Director at OBI. "The OBI ONtrepreneurs Program is a perfect example of what can be achieved - and how many people can benefit - in a relatively short time when good ideas are recognized, and talent is fostered."
Ontario ranks in the top five globally for science productivity and is home to over 800 neuroscientists – one of the highest concentrations of professionals in the world. The program has played a key role in further advancing the province's standing as a leader in neurotech development by building an integrated system where research, commercialization and care are all connected.
"With the hard work, dedication and commitment of Ontario's researchers, innovators and organizations such as the Ontario Brain Institute and the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation, our province has successfully built and amplified the world-class brain health and neurotech sector we have today," said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "Our government is committed to investing in knowledge-based companies to support brain health research, innovation and technological advances that help to deliver a better quality of life for Ontarians living with brain disorders, their families and caregivers."
The winners of this year's OBI ONtrepreneurs Program will be joining the existing 81 OBI Portfolio Companies helping to grow the province's neurotech cluster and in supporting brain health. More information on OBI ONtrepreneurs Program can be found here.
Please note that all the 2021 OBI ONtrepreneurs are available for interview.
About the Ontario Brain Institute The Ontario Brain Institute is a not-for-profit organization that accelerates discovery and innovation, benefiting both patients and the economy. Our collaborative 'team science' approach promotes brain research, commercialization and care by connecting researchers, clinicians, industry, patients, and their advocates to improve the lives of those living with brain disorders. Welcome to Brain Central. Funding provided, in part, by the Government of Ontario. Visit www.braininstitute.ca for more information. Follow us on Twitter (@OntarioBrain).
OBI currently has 81 neurotech companies in its growing portfolio through ONtrepreneurs and NERD Programs with the ultimate goal of making clinically validated products and services accessible to the community. The OBI ONtrepreneurs Program is Canada's single largest award that catalyzes early-stage entrepreneurs to commercialize brain-related technologies. The NERD (Neurotech Early Research & Development) program de-risks follow-on investments in neurotech by providing milestone-based funding to support product development.
SOURCE Ontario Brain Institute
Phzio Canada's MSK360 virtual physiotherapy platform launches to Manulife Group Benefit Members
OTTAWA, ON, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Phzio Canada's MSK360 Therapeutic Platform, is now available to Manulife Group Benefits plan members. The platform will offer Manulife's plan members access to physical health services for virtual musculoskeletal prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation services. MSK360 is another great way Manulife plan members can get the right care at the right time – an important component of Manulife's health by design approach (2).
Approximately 1 in 5 employees will experience a musculoskeletal condition annually that impacts their ability to perform in the workplace (1). For Plan Sponsors, employees who are struggling with physical injuries, functional restrictions or limited mobility for example see an increased need for treatment programs, accommodations and time away from work.
Manulife is offering their plan members basic access to MSK360. This includes injury prevention content, early intervention, therapeutic programs and preferred rates for virtual providers, that can be claimed using the plan member's benefits coverage.
Plan sponsors will have the option to upgrade access to MSK360 for their plan members and provide unlimited virtual evaluations and treatments, ergonomics assessments, and physical conditioning plans. With this option, plan sponsors will also gain access to advanced MSK360 metrics for pre-disability MSK patterns, utilization, consumption and member satisfaction.
Plan sponsor MSK360 upgrades are priced at $1 per employee, per month.
Curtis Hollister, COO Phzio Canada "we are privileged to be working with forward thinking teams like those at Manulife. Through our unique approach to early interventions, injury prevention programs and effective therapeutic treatments we are working to keep employees physically prepared for work and life. Historically, employers have invested heavily in supporting mental wellness at work, this partnership is a leap forward for the physical health of employees."
About Phzio, and the MSK360 Therapeutic Platform
Phzio is a leading virtual physiotherapy company which has recently developed the MSK360 platform. Phzio provides advanced virtual tools and reporting systems for physiotherapists to use while assessing and documenting their patient's progress. Phzio's mission is to deliver remarkable content and virtual sessions on physical injury prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation programs for plan sponsors and their plan members with musculoskeletal disorders.
OnPharm-United Network of Independent Pharmacies Enables PrescribeIT® in Record Time
TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - OnPharm-United is pleased to announce that the PrescribeIT® e-prescribing service is now available at 120 of its independent pharmacy locations.
Developed by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), PrescribeIT® enables prescribers to safely and conveniently transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice.
"The uptake of PrescribeIT® within OnPharm-United's network of independent pharmacy owners has been remarkable," said Jamie Bruce, Executive Vice President, Canada Health Infoway. "OnPharm-United Pharmacies now have access to improved communication with prescribers while eliminating the need for faxed prescriptions."
"We are committed to helping independent pharmacy owners thrive in their practice and their business," said Sherif Guorgui, co-CEO and Chief Strategy, Stakeholder and Government Relations Officer, OnPharm-United. "PrescribeIT® supports our goal of delivering innovative services to our members."
In the wake of COVID-19, an increasing number of prescribers have moved to telemedicine and e-prescribing has become a key component of virtual health care.
"OnPharm-United pharmacies partnered with PrescribeIT® in the early days. The solution seamlessly integrates into the pharmacy workflow and works well for the independent business model. We encourage all our 600 pharmacy members to take advantage of this partnership," said Guorgui. "I trust that if PrescribeIT® were rolled out in more pharmacies and medical clinics across Canada, particularly during this public health crisis, it would help to further reduce unnecessary physical contact with paper prescriptions and would certainly be a better option than sending and receiving prescriptions over unsecured email."
About OnPharm-United
OnPharm-United was created in 2018 by a merger between OnPharm (founded in 2010) and United Pharma Group (founded in 2014), bringing together two of the fastest growing networks of independent pharmacies in Canada. The OnPharm-United network includes 600 pharmacies in Ontario. The network also includes pharmacies in British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Learn more at http://www.onpharmunited.ca/.
About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca.
About PrescribeIT®
Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT®. PrescribeIT® will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT® will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Barbara McDonald Stakeholders and Media Inquiries OnPharm-United 416.309.2341 Ext. 1001
Karen Schmidt Director, Corporate/Internal Communications Canada Health Infoway 416.886.4967
Inquiries about PrescribeIT®:
Tania Ensor Senior Director, Marketing, Stakeholder Relations and Reputation Management, PrescribeIT® Canada Health Infoway 416.707.6285
SOURCE OnPharm-United
Momentum Accelerates as BC and Infoway Formalize Provincial Prescription Management (e-Prescribing) Discussions
TORONTO, ON and VICTORIA, BC, April 8, 2021 /CNW/ - The British Columbia Ministry of Health (the BC Ministry of Health) and Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to work together to explore a solution that could allow Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Pharmacy Management Systems the option of supporting Provincial Prescription Management (e-Prescribing) in the province by connecting to PharmaNet through PrescribeIT®.
Under this Agreement, the BC Ministry of Health and Infoway will work to identify a possible solution that meets BC Ministry of Health conformance requirements and aligns with the provincial enterprise architecture, health sector standards, legislation and information management requirements. This model would provide BC prescribers and pharmacists with an alternative option to direct integration with the PharmaNet system for electronic prescribing.
"We are extremely pleased to be working with BC on this initiative," said Michael Green, President and CEO of Infoway. "We now have agreements in place with all 13 provinces and territories and we will continue to work closely with our provincial and territorial government partners to advance our shared priorities."
About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca.
About PrescribeIT®
Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT®. PrescribeIT® will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT® will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Karen Schmidt Director, Corporate/Internal Communications Canada Health Infoway 416.886.4967 Email Us Follow @Infoway
Inquiries about PrescribeIT®:
Tania Ensor Senior Director, Marketing, Stakeholder Relations and Reputation Management, PrescribeIT® Canada Health Infoway 416.707.6285 Email Us Follow @PrescribeIT_CA
SOURCE Canada Health Infoway
6 Things Men Should Start Doing Now to Get in Shape for Summer Let’s face it: the “Quarantine 15” has a lot of mens’ self-esteem in the toilet right now after a long past year of sheltering in place and social distancing.
Approximately 64% of men said their current state of health or appearance negatively impacts their confidence, according to a recent survey of 1,000 US men ages 30-65 conducted by Vault Health. In addition, 90% said their current state of health or appearance could be improved.
But that doesn’t mean it has to remain that way– especially with a post-Covid return to normal on the horizon as we settle into the beautiful summer months.
Dr. Myles Spar is the Chief Medical Officer for Vault Health, the first men’s telehealth startup to offer direct-to-consumer prescription treatments such as testosterone replacement therapy to optimize their physical, sexual, and cognitive health.
He has some sage tips for shedding unwanted belly fat, gaining lean body mass, and getting in shape for what will hopefully be one of the best summers ever.
Diversify Your Workout. Incorporating different training styles into your routine can help you achieve better results while avoiding the boredom that comes with a stale and repetitive workout plan. This means changing-up your workouts with activities like HIIT training, cycling, lifting, hiking, or yoga. Whatever workouts you enjoy, make a plan to rotate between four specific types of activity throughout the week: cardio, core, flexibility, and resistance.
Incorporate Cardiovascular Exercise. Studies show that combining cardio and strength training, sometimes called cardiovascular exercise, into your regimen has proven not only to have the best effect on cardiovascular and overall health but to be one of the best techniques for fat loss.
Listen to Your Body. Not every day is for breaking records. Your stress, sleep, diet, and emotional health can affect your workout readiness for the day. If you wake up feeling tired or drained, pay attention to those signals. If you haven’t had a rest day in the past week, consider taking the day off from strenuous activity. Otherwise, you can try jumping into your regular workout routine—but if you’re not feeling re-energized within 10 minutes of the workout, there’s a good chance your body needs to take it easy. Wearables can also offer important metrics when it comes to registering your body’s recovery and readability.
Prioritize Nutrition. Though exercise is key, supporting your workouts with a healthy and balanced diet will enable you to achieve better—and longer-lasting results. Whether you’re already a healthy eater or starting from scratch, now is a great time to refocus on your nutrition. First, establish your goals. Is your top priority to build muscle mass? Then you’ll need to ensure that you’re consuming adequate calories and plenty of healthy protein. If your top goal is losing body fat, you may want to experiment with intermittent fasting or reducing simple carbs and sugar from your diet.
Celebrate Small Wins. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your body is no different. Losing fat and building muscle mass will take time, determination, and follow-through. It’s not uncommon for people to get discouraged when they don’t see immediate results, but just remember that it usually takes much longer to get your body back into shape than It does to fall off the bandwagon and get out of shape. The key is to celebrate the small wins like completing your first full week of training, losing 5 pounds, gaining a half-inch of muscle, and so on.
Boost Your Results. If you’re hoping to burn fat and obtain lean body mass, Vault Health has two customizable performance-based personalized plans just for these purposes. The Body Kit relies on the power of peptides, which are naturally-occurring chemicals that can boost key hormones inside the body and, in turn, burn through fat while making it easier to pack on muscle. It can also improve things such as sleep, mood, energy, and endurance. In addition, Vault also has the popular Vitamin B12-MIC Fat Burner Kit. By increasing metabolic rate, Vitamin B12-MIC can help burn through fat while regulating sleep, mood, and appetite. The MIC stands for Methionine-Inositol-Choline, and it’s a combination of nutrients that can boost liver function, lower cholesterol, help with allergies, regulate appetite, and rid the body of toxins, amongst other things.
But with all this exercise, don’t forget to rest. Remember it is possible to overdo it when it comes to exercise, and working out too hard may actually decrease testosterone. So don’t skip those rest days!
New RestoraFIBRE® Daily Gummies offers convenient source of fibre
RestoraFIBRE Daily Gummies contains inulin, a prebiotic fibre which helps support a healthy digestive system and promote regularity
TORONTO, April 7, 2021 /CNW/ - Bayer Inc. is excited to announce that Canadians now have a convenient new everyday source of fibre to help support and maintain a healthy digestive system. RestoraFIBRE Daily Gummies helps provide Canadians with the supplemental fibre they may need — in a great-tasting, chewable gummy form.
RestoraFIBRE Daily Gummies contain inulin, which is both a soluble fibre and a prebiotic that helps encourage growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. When fed well, these bacteria (such as bifidobacteria) help to maintain a healthy gut and support a healthy digestive system. The importance of prebiotics and fibre in the diet has been noted and most Canadians are only getting about half of their required fibre intake.1
"RestoraFIBRE Daily Gummies grows our family of RestoraLAX constipation products," says Gerry Cruz, Brand Manager Digestive Health, Bayer.
Two RestoraFIBRE Daily Gummies taken twice a day provides 8 grams of soluble, naturally sourced fibre to help support regularity and can help adults meet their daily fibre requirements. The gummies also help provide gentle relief of constipation and irregularity.
RestoraFIBRE Gummies offer six great-tasting fruit flavours per bottle in either 30-count or 90-count bottles. Learn more at www.restorafibre.ca
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.ca.
To be sure this product is right for you, always read and follow the label. RestoraFIBRE serves as a supplement to help fill fibre gaps when diet is not enough.
SOURCE Bayer Inc.
Sun Life to donate additional $1 million toward global COVID-19 relief efforts
In line with World Health Day, the donation will address health inequities, to build a fairer, healthier world for everyone
TORONTO, April 7, 2021 /CNW/ - Today marks World Health Day. As the pressures of the pandemic continue, this year's theme – to build a fairer, healthier world for everyone – takes on new meaning. In response, Sun Life is announcing an additional $1 million to help ongoing global COVID-19 relief efforts and address health inequities.
This support is in addition to Sun Life's $1 million donation announced in March 2020. Those funds focused on health care, elder care and addressing food insecurity needs in markets where Sun Life operates: Asia, Canada and the United States.
"Sun Life remains focused on assisting our communities, particularly those most impacted by the pandemic," said Kevin Strain, President, Sun Life. "COVID-19 has deepened inequities around the world, and our donation directly supports organizations helping those who need it the most. We believe supporting the needs and well-being of the most vulnerable is key to a healthy and sustainable future for our communities."
Helping Canadians live healthier lives - support for COVID-19
In Canada, a portion of the donation will go toward supporting public health units. This funding will assist with the vaccine rollout in various communities, with an emphasis on seniors and clinics supporting Indigenous populations. The remainder will help organizations address the mental health and food insecurity crisis.
Sun Life has taken actionable steps over the past year to promote the safety and well-being of Clients, employees, advisors and our communities. These include offering relevant and timely COVID-19 resources, many of which are available on Lumino Health, Canada's largest, free digital health network. Sun Life helped Clients with credit counselling and debt management support through a partnership with the Credit Counselling Society, a non-profit firm. And, Sun Life donated more than $13.7 million to community organizations globally in 2020, including donating more than $4.5 million towards diabetes awareness, prevention and care, increasing our overall total to $38 million since 2012.
As outlined in Sun Life's 2020 Sustainability Report, actions in support of COVID-19 relief efforts directly align with our Sustainability Plan and purpose.
About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2020, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,247 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.
Teva Canada Amplifies Commitment to Canadian Caregivers - Introduces new resources to support and improve mental health of Caregivers
April 6, 2021 – National Caregiver Day Event – TODAY AT 12:00 PM EDT
Free Live Virtual Class at 12:00 PM EDT today for caregivers focuses on importance of being resilient and how to access it from within; register via Eventbrite at: TevaCanada.com
New Life Effects Website supports patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers with powerful stories and content written by people with chronic health conditions offering "real-life" perspective;
30-Day Unlimited Trial of NEW Huddol Journeys App provides personal guidance from the world's best wellness experts in a variety of topics relevant to caregiving.
TORONTO, April 6, 2021 /CNW/ - Extending its ongoing commitment to caregivers through the Caregiver-Friendly Pharmacy (CFP) program, and recognizing the significant toll COVID-19 has had on the caregiver community over the past year, Teva Canada today unveiled new resources and programming to support the mental health challenges caregivers often experience.
Teva Canada today unveiled new resources and programming to support the mental health challenges caregivers often experience.
Introduced on National Caregiver Day, these added resources support and acknowledge the important role that Canada's eight million caregivers play in providing unpaid care to a family member or friend with a physical, cognitive or mental health condition.
"A year into the pandemic, continued uncertainty and isolation have disrupted all our normal routines and made caregivers particularly vulnerable to mental health issues as they take on more responsibilities to keep loved ones safe. The need to provide tools and resources to help caregivers cope has never been greater," says Teva Canada General Manager, Christine Poulin. "Faced with their own stresses as front-line workers, pharmacists continue to be a vital connection to caregivers, identifying and helping those who are overwhelmed and struggling. With the addition of new tools through the Caregiver-Friendly Pharmacy Program, pharmacists will be able to help caregivers cope better with the challenges of caring for those with chronic conditions and leverage their own resilience."
Recent Teva research1 indicates 43 per cent of the global population identify themselves as caregivers, yet one-in-four (24 per cent) do not have enough support to properly care for the individual they care for. A further 22 per cent of respondents say they have altered their daily routine as a result of becoming a caregiver and 32 per cent say caring has taken a large emotional toll on them. A Statistics Canada report released in November 2020, also indicated that senior caregivers reported a number of unmet caregiving needs with 33 per cent indicating they would like information and advice and 29 per cent requiring help from a medical professional.2
Building Resiliency with Life Coach Robert Pardi
On National Caregiver Day, Teva Canada is pleased to be partnering with Huddol (Canada's largest online caregiver support network that connects caregivers with peer and expert guidance) on a live virtual class – today at 12:00 PM EDT – with Journeys Mentor and former caregiver Robert Pardi as he conducts an introduction to the Moving Positively Through Change: Resilience Awakens 7-day Journey experience. Registration for the live class is free and available through Eventbrite at: TevaCanada.com
Pardi, a former investment banker and caregiver for 11 years to his wife who passed from breast cancer in 2009, chose to embrace change and transformed his life path to become a Life Coach to caregivers. Today he shares his philosophy on leveraging resilience and how to confront life challenges to use life instead of being used by life to empower other caregivers.
"Resilience is a skill that lies dormant in many of us, but one that we all have," he says. "Beneath it is the ability to confront change and adapt to it in a positive way. This is especially important for caregivers to be able to broaden their perspective about their situation and see the opportunity in caregiving and not necessarily the loss or changes in their loved one or circumstances."
Get 30 Days of Unlimited Access Free
Starting in the month of April, Teva Canada is offering free 30-day unlimited access to Huddol's NEW Journeys Appfeaturing Pardi's guided 7-day Journey, Moving Positively Through Change: Resilience Awakens. Each half-hour Journey session helps participants navigate the feelings and internal conflicts of being a caregiver and provides the tools and information to help them better relate to their new realities and find greater meaning and purpose in their life.
"The pandemic has reminded us that life is fragile, particularly when we are holding a life in our hands and caring for a family member or friend who is vulnerable. What we are creating through Huddol Journeys is a digital space that empowers caregivers to thrive in adversity – a prescription for human transformation," said Huddol CEO Mark Stolow.
To access the Teva Canada sponsored free 30-day trial of the Huddol Journeys App and the Moving Positively Through Change: Resilience Awakens Journey, visit: journeys.huddol.com/teva-cares
Life Effects - The Most Powerful Words of All
Teva Canada's NEW Life Effects website provides resources written by real people navigating life with one or more chronic conditions. Their shared stories offer information, insight, and inspiration about the lived experience. This advice is especially meaningful and inspiring to patients and their caregivers, recognizing that words from someone who's been there are the most powerful of all.
With personal insights and guidance from over 35 contributors living with a chronic condition, people can explore a mix of articles, videos, and podcasts on a variety of conditions including anxiety; asthma; cancer; cardiovascular disease; caregiving; COPD; depression; migraine and MS. The stories are vetted by medical experts prior to publishing and provide unique perspectives from patients around the world with new stories published monthly.
"There is such value and shared sense of empathy to be able to tap into real life stories – whether it be for comfort and understanding or advice and practical tips for living with the condition," says Lori Mann, Associate Director, Marketing Communications for Teva Canada. "Life Effects gives patients and their caregivers a sense of community and comfort as they relate to, and learn from, the experiences of people who have actually been there."
The content on Life Effects is non-promotional and avoids mention of treatment or classes of treatment. Stories are vetted by medical experts prior to publishing and provide the personal perspectives of patients and caregivers from around the world. With the launch in Canada, Life Effects content is now available in 12 markets (in 11 different languages). Though some details may not be relevant to the Canadian healthcare system, the contributors' lived experiences, feelings and perspectives are relevant and universal no matter where a person lives.
Watch the inspirational Notes of Hope video – Reminding us of the power of shared experience: TevaCanada.com
About the Teva Canada Caregiver-Friendly Pharmacy
In 2019 Teva Canada launched the Caregiver Friendly Pharmacy (CFP) program – a national program that supports caregivers with online tools and resources and empowers pharmacists to identify and engage with caregivers.
The CFP includes:
Accredited training for pharmacy teams (over 2,500 pharmacists have completed the continuing education);
Downloadable Online Caregiver resources used by over a quarter of a million Canadians including:
Additional resources include emotive videos of caregiver stories and a cancer podcast series on living with cancer.
All of Teva Canada's downloadable resources for caregivers can be found at: TevaCanada.com/Caregivers
About Teva Canada
Teva Canada, headquartered in Toronto, has provided affordable healthcare solutions to Canadians for over 50 years, building their trust one prescription at a time with now more than 192,0003 prescriptions filled each day with our products, representing 1 of every 8 generic prescriptions in Canada4. Originally Novopharm Limited, Teva Canada specializes in the development, production, and marketing of high-quality generic prescription pharmaceuticals and, through our branded division, focuses on a diverse line of speciality and biopharmaceutical products in a variety of therapeutic areas such as central nervous system (CNS), respiratory, oncology and rheumatology. Teva Canada's commitment to helping improve the lives of Canadians also extends to the Teva Caregiver program – providing tools and resources for Canadians navigating the care journey. Teva Canada employs more than 900 professionals, had sales of nearly $1.1 billion5 in 2020, and markets more than 3606 products in over 840 SKUs4 in Canada. We are a proud subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Learn more at www.tevacanada.com.
About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people's lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.
