Diplomat to distribute Plegridy™ (peginterferon beta-1a) for treatment of multiple sclerosis
FLINT, Mich., Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat, the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, announced that it will distribute Plegridy™ (peginterferon beta-1a). Manufactured by Biogen Idec, Plegridy™ was approved on August 15, 2014 by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). Plegridy is the only pegylated beta interferon approved for use in RMS and is dosed once every two weeks. Plegridy can be administered subcutaneously with the Plegridy Pen, a new, ready-to-use autoinjector, or a prefilled syringe.
The approval of Plegridy comes as a result of the one of the largest pivotal studies of beta interferon conducted, ADVANCE, which included more than 1,500 MS patients. ADVANCE was a two-year, Phase 3, placebo-controlled study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of Plegridy administered subcutaneously. The ADVANCE study demonstrated a reduction in relapses, disability progression and the number of MS lesions in comparison to the results with placebo.
The most common side effects experienced by patients taking Plegridy were reactions at the injection site. Dosing of Plegridy should be titrated, beginning with 63 micrograms (mcg) on Day 1, 94 mcg on Day 1, 125 mcg on Day 29 and every 14 days following.
For full prescribing information visit plegridy.com or biogenidec.com
To learn more, visit diplomat.is.
About Diplomat
Diplomat serves patients and physicians in all 50 states as the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy. Headquartered in Flint, Michigan, the company focuses on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases, including oncology, immunology, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, HIV, specialized infusion therapy and many other serious or long-term conditions. Diplomat opened its doors in 1975 as a neighborhood pharmacy with one essential tenet: "Take good care of patients, and the rest falls into place." Today, that tradition continues – always focused on improving adherence and outcomes. For more information visit www.diplomat.is. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and like us on Facebook.
CONTACT:
Abigail Bearman, Diplomat
810.768.9563 | [email protected]
Gary Rice, R.Ph., Diplomat
810.768.9863 | [email protected]
SOURCE Diplomat
Share this article