Viekira Pak™ approved for treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, Diplomat to distribute

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Dec 22, 2014, 04:40 ET

FLINT, Mich., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO), the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, announced that it will stock Viekira Pak™ (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets), approved Dec. 19, 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Viekira Pak is a treatment for genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection including those with compensated cirrhosis and will be available through open distribution.

Viekira Pak combines three direct–acting antivirals, each of which targets and inhibits specific HCV proteins of the replication process. The labeled dosing for Viekira Pak is two ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir 12.5 mg/75 mg/50 mg tablets once daily and one dasabuvir 250 mg tablet twice daily for either 12 weeks of therapy, or 24 weeks of therapy depending on the patient population.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3.2 million people in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis C infection. Left untreated, the disease causes inflammation of the liver that can lead to reduced liver function, liver failure or liver cancer.

Diplomat patients prescribed Viekira Pak will also receive the benefit of the company's disease management programs. Diplomat's hepatitis C program is dedicated to providing education and support to the patient through 24/7 staff availability, side-effect management, prior authorization coordination and help in securing financial assistance.

Viekira was granted breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA in May 2013, a status indicating that the therapy regimen has shown preliminary clinical evidence that it may yield better results than conventional treatments. Viekira also received priority review status.

Viekira is manufactured by AbbVie. For full prescribing information, visit http://rxabbvie.com/pdf/viekirapak_pi.pdf

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, including relating to Diplomat's distribution of the drug(s) set forth above (and any implied financial impact). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information, and 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. These risks include the number of patients prescribed such drug(s) currently and in the future, patient's adherence to such drug(s), the number of distributors on panel and our relative distribution share, the timing of drug sales, the cost of such drug(s) and reimbursement rates by payors, drug competition, and the factors set forth in "Risk Factors" in Diplomat's prospectus dated October 10, 2014 and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable law, 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.

To learn more, visit diplomat.is.

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, 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 patient care and clinical adherence. 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, MS, MBA, CSP., Diplomat
810.768.9863 | [email protected]

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SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.