Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. Selects Accredo Health Group to Distribute Anascorp® for the Treatment of Centruroides Scorpion Sting Envenomation

FRANKLIN and MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. (RDT) announced today that its recently approved Anascorp® (Centruroides (Scorpion) Immune F(ab')2 (Equine) Injection) is now available on the market through Accredo Health Group, Inc. – a wholly owned subsidiary of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS).  On August 3, 2011, Anascorp became the first treatment approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Centruroides scorpion sting envenomation, and has been awarded orphan drug designation by the FDA, providing a seven-year period of market exclusivity.  Accredo is the sole U.S. specialty distributor of the medication.

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"Accredo's experience successfully managing the nuances associated with products targeting rare diseases for small patient populations makes pharmaceutical manufacturers, such as Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc., confident in trusting their product launch to our team," said Accredo President, Frank Sheehy.  "We look forward to working with Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. to deliver this important medication to those in need."

Accredo will offer specialty wholesale distribution services of Anascorp to hospitals and other appropriately licensed facilities.

"Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. has worked with Accredo for nearly ten years to provide patients with access to our potential life-saving medications for rare diseases," said Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. President Milton H. Ellis. "We worked successfully with Accredo to distribute Anascorp during the clinical trial phase, and we are excited to expand our relationship now that Anascorp is available commercially."

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About Anascorp®

Anascorp®, an equine-derived antivenom, is the first of a series of antivenoms in the Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. pipeline. Anascorp®, an F(ab')2  antibody is used for the treatment of patients with clinical signs of scorpion envenomation from the Centruroides sculpturatus scorpion. Centruroides sculpturatus is the only clinically important scorpion species with vertebrate neurotoxins whose natural range includes the United States.

About Centruroides Scorpion Sting Envenomation

The U.S. is home to at least 40 species, most are found in the southern and western states. Stings from any of these may cause local pain and swelling and don't usually warrant medical treatment. However, there is one species in the U.S. that is regarded as medically important; this is the Centruroides sculpturatus. Patients stung by the Centruroides scorpion experience immediate burning and stinging sensation at the sting site. Following the pain Centruroides scorpion envenomation produces a pattern of neurotoxicity with a spectrum of severity ranging from the trivial to life threatening. Severe envenomation, more common in small children, may involve loss of muscle control, roving or abnormal eye movements, slurred speech, respiratory distress, excessive salivation, frothing at the mouth and vomiting.  Anascorp is the only FDA-approved therapy for these envenomations.  

The most common adverse reactions observed in less than two percent of patients in the clinical studies fro Anascorp were:  vomiting, pyrexia, rash, nausea, and pruritus.  Server hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, are possible with Anascorp.  Delayed allergic reactions (serum sickness) may occur following treatment with Anascorp.  Anascorp is made from equine plasma and may contain infectious agents, e.g., viruses.  Localized reactions and generalized myalgias have been reported with the use of cresol as an injectable excipient.

Anascorp is available as a lyophilized powder in single-use vials, for intravenous infusion only, and must be reconstituted and diluted by a healthcare professional prior to administration.

About Rare Disease Therapeutics

Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. (RDT) is a well established company founded in 1991 and located in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. has a solid track record with multiple licensing agreements, a comprehensive global patient advocacy network, and significant success in drug development and approval. Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. works closely with the FDA Office of Orphan Product Development, National Organization for Rare Disorders, the National Institutes of Health, large international pharmaceutical companies, and patient advocacy groups to identify the unmet needs of patients with rare diseases and potential products to meet these needs.

About Accredo Health Group

Accredo Health Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medco Health Solutions, Inc., is one of the nation's largest specialty pharmacies dedicated to providing an enhanced level of individualized service to patients with chronic and complex disease. Drugs dispensed by Accredo, which are often biotechnology drugs, frequently require special handling and clinical services to help promote patient safety and health.

About Medco Health Solutions

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is pioneering the world's most advanced pharmacy® and its clinical research and innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarter™ for approximately 65 million members.

With more than 20,000 employees worldwide dedicated to improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and private sector clients, and 2010 revenues of $66 billion, Medco ranks 34th on the 2011 Fortune 500 list and is named among the world's most innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies. 

For more information, go to http://www.medcohealth.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.