Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Announces Commitments in Pain Care Program Focused on Responsible Pain Management

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. today announced the establishment of Commitments in Pain Care, a program focused on education and awareness about responsible pain management. The program underscores Daiichi Sankyo's commitment to bring innovative medicines to patients in pain in a responsible manner, and contribute to the larger effort of preventing controlled substance abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose.

"We proactively established Commitments in Pain Care as part of our dedication to being a responsible leader in the pain therapeutic area," said Ken Keller, President, Administrative and Commercial, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. "As we prepare to enter the market, we are taking proactive steps to ensure we undertake the marketing and distribution of our pain medications, as well as engagement with our customers, with a great sense of responsibility and professionalism."

Commitments in Pain Care is built around six foundational pillars: 

1. Being a part of the solution to prescription drug abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose.
2. Supporting the well-being and treatment of patients who suffer from pain, and providing prescription medicines to treat their pain and other related conditions.
3. Educating healthcare providers, patients, families and caregivers on the appropriate use of pain medicines, and recognizing and preventing their potential for diversion, misuse, abuse, addiction and overdose.
4. Monitoring prescribing and distribution patterns for signs of inappropriate prescribing or diversion of these medications.
5. Ensuring employees are reliable, trustworthy sources of information about pain treatments, and that our communications about pain medicines will be truthful, accurate, and respect the seriousness of the condition being treated, as well as the potential risks associated with these medicines.
6. Adhering to ethical and socially responsible business practices at all times, and conducting our business fairly, honestly, with integrity, and in accordance with Daiichi Sankyo's Standards of Business Conduct.

The program encompasses a range of initiatives based on these pillars, some of which are set to launch in Fall 2017, to engage and educate patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates, employees and others. Key initiatives include:

• A prescription monitoring program to track prescribing and distribution patterns for signs of inappropriate prescribing or diversion of opioid medications.
• Ongoing compliance training and additional all-employee and role-specific trainings to ensure the company's employees are knowledgeable about the benefits and potential risks of opioid pain treatments, covering a variety of topics including the science of addiction and the impact and burden of opioid abuse and misuse.
• A dedicated educational website designed to provide resources to patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals regarding a multifaceted approach to pain management, integrating different treatments to meet individual needs, as well as the appropriate use of prescription pain medicines, and ways in which to better prevent or recognize potential misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose, death and diversion.
• Continued engagement with third-party patient advocacy and professional groups to identify areas in need of additional support and education, including important tools and resources that enable patients and their healthcare providers to have meaningful conversations about topics such as safe storage and disposal of prescription pain medicines.
• Ongoing public policy activities focused on addressing opioid abuse and misuse.

"We need an integrated approach to effectively address the needs of people living with pain while also achieving meaningful progress in the fight against opioid abuse and misuse," said Penney Cowan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the American Chronic Pain Association. "Opioid manufacturers are among the many groups that have an important responsibility in this effort, and it's encouraging to see companies like Daiichi Sankyo put their commitments into action."

About Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 16,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension and thrombotic disorders, under the Group's 2025 Vision to become a "Global Pharma Innovator with a Competitive Advantage in Oncology," Daiichi Sankyo research and development is primarily focused on bringing forth novel therapies in oncology, including immuno-oncology, with additional focus on new horizon areas, such as pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and other rare diseases. For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com. Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. For more information on Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., please visit: www.dsi.com.

About Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.'s Commitments in Pain Care Program
Commitments in Pain Care is a program which reflects Daiichi Sankyo Inc.'s dedication to responsibly bringing innovative medicines to patients in pain and being a part of the solution to controlled substance abuse. The program is designed to engage and educate key stakeholders around responsible pain management, including patients and caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates, employees and others. Pain management may require the appropriate use of prescription medicines including controlled substances such as opioids, and these medicines may be associated with safety concerns such as diversion, misuse, abuse, addiction, or overdose. Commitments in Pain Care underscores the Company's dedication to undertaking the marketing and distribution of its pain medicines, as well as engagement with stakeholders, with a great sense of responsibility and professionalism. To learn more about Commitments in Pain Care, please visit: www.dsi.com/commitments-in-pain-care.

Contact

Alyssa Dargento
Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
[email protected] 
908-992-6632

SOURCE Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.