ADAPT Pharma & the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) Announce Collaboration to Educate Member Pharmacies

DUBLIN, Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAPT Pharma, Inc. (Adapt) today announced a new educational collaboration with the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative's (IPC) network of 2,500+ member pharmacies to expand availability and increase awareness of naloxone, an opioid overdose emergency treatment, while educating Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians about opioid overdose. Part of the education for IPC will include a new Pharmacy Training online video arming them with the necessary knowledge to educate patients and caregivers about potential dangers of prescription opioids, and the importance of having naloxone on-hand.

The initiative follows a recent report in New York City stating that only one-third of pharmacies that registered to provide naloxone had the product in stock and would dispense it without a prescription.¹ In the United States, 50 states allow naloxone, including NARCAN^® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray, to be purchased directly from a pharmacist without an individualized prescription from their doctor.

"We are working with ADAPT to help educate our pharmacists and put programs in place that will help us inform our at-risk patients about opioid safety, and the importance of having naloxone available in the home," said Don Anderson, President & CEO, IPC. "Our new collaboration with ADAPT Pharma arms member pharmacies and their employees with critical tools and information to ensure they are taking an active stance in preventing opioid overdose deaths in their communities."

"Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians [where applicable] are often the first line of defense in educating patients about opioid use safety, accidental overdose, and the availability of naloxone," said Matt Ruth, U.S. Chief Commercial Officer, Adapt. "We are thrilled to work with IPC to provide independent pharmacies with access to educational tools that will improve awareness of the potentially lifesaving opioid overdose treatment, NARCAN^® Nasal Spray, and make starting conversations with patients easier." 

NARCAN^® Nasal Spray 4mg is the first and only FDA-approved, needle-free formulation of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. It does not require assembly or any specialized medical training* and is also the highest concentrated dose of intranasal naloxone currently available. NARCAN^® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care, and additional doses of NARCAN^® Nasal Spray may be required until emergency medical assistance arrives. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance. Repeat doses may be necessary.

*Please read Instructions for Use 

Please see Indications and Important Safety Information below.

Indications

NARCAN^® (naloxone hydrochloride) Nasal Spray is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN^® Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN^® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care.

Important Safety Information

NARCAN^® (naloxone HCI) Nasal Spray is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to naloxone hydrochloride or to any of the other ingredients.

Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance.

Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and CNS Depression: Due to the duration of action of naloxone relative to the opioid, keep the patient under continued surveillance and administer repeat doses of naloxone using a new nasal spray with each dose, as necessary, while awaiting emergency medical assistance.

Risk of Limited Efficacy with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonists/Antagonists: Reversal of respiratory depression caused by partial agonists or mixed agonists/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete. Larger or repeat doses may be required.

Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal: Use in patients who are opioid dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal characterized by body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, piloerection, yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure, and tachycardia. In some patients, there may be aggressive behavior upon abrupt reversal of an opioid overdose. In neonates, opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening if not recognized and properly treated and may also include convulsions, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes. Monitor for the development of opioid withdrawal.

Risk of Cardiovascular (CV) Effects: Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid depression may result in adverse CV effects. These events have primarily occurred in patients who had pre-existing CV disorders or received other drugs that may have similar adverse CV effects. Monitor these patients closely in an appropriate healthcare setting after use of naloxone hydrochloride.

Adverse Reactions:  The following adverse reactions were observed in a NARCAN^® Nasal Spray clinical study: increased blood pressure, constipation, toothache, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, headache, nasal dryness, nasal edema, nasal congestion, nasal inflammation, rhinalgia, and xeroderma.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact ADAPT Pharma, Inc. at 1-844-4NARCAN (1-844-462-7226) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see full Prescribing Information at: https://www.narcan.com/pdf/NARCAN-Prescribing-Information.pdf.

For additional information on NARCAN^® Nasal Spray, please visit www.NARCAN.com.

For questions regarding NARCAN^® Nasal Spray distribution, please call 1-844-4NARCAN (462-7226).

ABOUT ADAPT PHARMA^®
Adapt Pharma^® is a privately-held company committed to expanding affordable access to NARCAN^® (naloxone HCI) Nasal Spray and to progressing treatment options in the field of addiction. Adapt Pharma's company headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland with U.S. headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.adaptpharma.com.

1 Correal A. Overdose Antidote Is Supposed to Be Easy to Get. It's Not. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/12/nyregion/overdose-antidote-naloxone-investigation-hard-to-buy.html. Published April 12, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2018.

©2018 ADAPT Pharma, Inc. ADAPT Pharma^® and NARCAN^® are registered trademarks licensed to ADAPT Pharma Operations Limited. NAR4-US-0353 ADAPT Pharma, Inc. Radnor, PA.

SOURCE ADAPT Pharma, Inc.

Related Links

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