Diplomat to Dispense VENCLEXTA™ for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
The nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy has been named a Preferred Vendor for limited-distribution drug VENCLEXTA™ (venetoclax).
FLINT, Mich., April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO) announced today that it is now filling prescriptions for VENCLEXTA™ (venetoclax). VENCLEXTA™ was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy, including those with 17p deletion.
To learn more about Diplomat's oncology program, click here.
CLL is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. CLL is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, accounting for about one-quarter of the new cases of leukemia. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated 18,960 people will be diagnosed with CLL in the United States in 2016. It often occurs during or after middle age; rarely occurring in children. The average age at the time of diagnosis is around 71 years.
CLL is a slow-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that is generally considered incurable and is one of the most common adult leukemias in the world. In certain cases of CLL, a part of chromosome 17 is lost and along with it an important gene that controls apoptosis called p53. The 17p deletion is found in 3 to 10 percent of previously untreated cases and approximately 30 to 50 percent of relapsed or refractory cases.
"We are extremely excited to be able to offer a treatment option for our patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia," said Gary Kadlec, Diplomat president. "VENCLEXTA™ represents a major achievement in drug development and an important option for patients with this disease."
VENCLEXTA™ is a small molecule inhibitor of the BCL-2 protein. VENCLEXTA™ has a distinct mechanism of action; it targets BCL-2, a protein central to the survival of CLL cells.
VENCLEXTA™ is being developed by AbbVie in partnership with Genentech and Roche. Click here for complete VENCLEXTA™ prescribing information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. These statements are qualified by important risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or indicated by such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, you should review Diplomat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Risk Factors" in Diplomat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable laws, Diplomat assumes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof or the earlier date specified herein, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
About Diplomat
Diplomat (NYSE: DPLO) serves patients and physicians in all 50 states. Headquartered in Flint, Michigan, the company focuses on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases, including oncology, immunology, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, 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 patient care and clinical adherence. For more information visit www.diplomat.is. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and like us on Facebook.
CONTACT:
Kali Lucas, Public Relations Coordinator
810.768.9580 | [email protected]
Gary Rice, RPh, MS, MBA, CSP,
Senior Vice President, Clinical Services,
Education and Human Resources
810.768.9863 | [email protected]
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SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.
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