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 | abearman@diplomat.is
Gary Rice, R.Ph, MS, MBA, CSP.,
Diplomat
810.768.9863 | grice@diplomat.is
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SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.