AcariaHealth selected to dispense ELEVIDYS™, the First Gene Therapy FDA Approved to Treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

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Jul 06, 2023, 16:30 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AcariaHealth, the fifth largest specialty pharmacy in the U.S., announced today that it has been selected by Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. as part of the limited distribution network for ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl). ELEVIDYS, an adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy, is approved for the treatment of ambulatory pediatric patients aged four through five years with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene. ELEVIDYS is contraindicated in patients with any deletion in exon 8 and/or exon 9 in the DMD gene. This indication was approved under accelerated approval based on expression of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin observed in patients treated with ELEVIDYS.

DMD is a rare neuromuscular disease caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes instructions for creating dystrophin, an essential protein for muscle strength. Without dystrophin, daily activities cause excessive damage to muscle cells, resulting in weakness over time which becomes increasingly noticeable between the ages of three and five. In adolescence, heart and breathing muscles diminish, leading to serious and life-threatening complications, causing most patients to require a wheelchair by the time they are 12.

"We are honored to be selected by Sarepta Therapeutics to play a critical role in bringing ELEVIDYS to sites of administration throughout the U.S," said Steve Granzyk, vice president of pharmacy relations and business development, AcariaHealth. "The road to approval in gene therapy is a long journey, but thanks to the tireless pursuit of Sarepta, as well as the work of many clinicians treating this rare disease, we now have an US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic – and hope for families across the country who are living with the challenges of DMD diagnoses. The AcariaHealth team is committed to helping DMD patients and their families receive this innovative therapy and our award-winning services."

ABOUT ACARIAHEALTH

AcariaHealth is a national comprehensive specialty pharmacy focused on improving care and outcomes for patients living with complex and chronic conditions, such as oncology, neurology, leukemia, cystic fibrosis, liver disease, hemophilia and other orphan diseases, including gene therapy. Offering specialized care management services in these disease states, AcariaHealth is dedicated to enhancing the patient care offering, collaborating with providers and capturing relevant data to measure patient outcomes. Learn more about how we put patients first while providing exceptional specialty pharmacy care at AcariaHealth.com.

For more information about ELEVIDYS, please see the ELEVIDYS Full Prescribing Information. Additional information for patients and physicians can also be found at www.SareptAssist.com.

SAREPTA THERAPEUTICS, SAREPTASSIST and ELEVIDYS are trademarks of Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in various other jurisdictions.

SOURCE AcariaHealth