Actelion Pharmaceuticals Selects Accredo Health Group to Distribute Epoprostenol for Injection for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., today announced that it has selected Accredo Health Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medco Health Solutions, Inc., to serve as the sole specialty pharmacy provider of Epoprostenol for Injection, the only epoprostenol formulated to provide up to 24-hour stability at room temperature without the use of ice packs. This improved formulation of Epoprostenol for Injection is commercially available today in the United States for the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with scleroderma spectrum of disease in NYHA Class III and IV patients who do not respond adequately to conventional therapy.

"This is an exciting improvement for people with moderate to severe PAH, and we are pleased to assist patients in the administration and follow up care for this important therapy," said Accredo President Steven R. Fitzpatrick.

"We are excited to launch Epoprostenol for Injection with the Accredo team, and will leverage their coordinated patient support system and extensive experience with PAH therapies, including epoprostenol," said Shal Jacobovitz, president of Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc. "This partnership will help ensure that patients have the support they need and the access to this convenient treatment option for moderate to severe PAH."

Accredo offers an enhanced level of personalized service to patients with chronic and complex disease, and will provide call center, nursing and reimbursement support services for patients using Epoprostenol for Injection and their healthcare providers. Patients and their physicians can call 1-866-FIGHTPH (1-866-344-4874), a hotline maintained by Accredo, to obtain benefit information available for Epoprostenol for Injection.

About Epoprostenol for Injection

Epoprostenol for Injection is indicated for the long-term intravenous treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with the scleroderma spectrum of disease in NYHA Class III and Class IV patients who do not respond adequately to conventional therapy. Unlike other epoprostenol formulations approved for PAH, this formulation is stable at room temperature (77 F, 25 C), for up to 24 hours after it has been diluted and administered, making the use of frozen gel packs unnecessary. Epoprostenol for Injection can be reconstituted with either Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP, eliminating the need for drug-specific diluents.

More information can be found at www.epoprostenol.com.

About Actelion

Actelion Ltd is a biopharmaceutical company with its corporate headquarters in Allschwil/Basel, Switzerland. Actelion's first drug Tracleer® (bosentan), an orally available dual endothelin receptor antagonist, has been approved as a therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Actelion markets Tracleer® through its own subsidiaries in key markets worldwide, including the United States (based in South San Francisco), the European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia and Switzerland. Actelion, founded in late 1997, is a leading player in innovative science related to the endothelium - the single layer of cells separating every blood vessel from the blood stream. Actelion's over 2000 employees focus on the discovery, development and marketing of innovative drugs for significant unmet medical needs. Actelion shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: ATLN) as part of the Swiss blue-chip index SMI (Swiss Market Index SMI®).

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 personalized 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 ensure the drugs are properly administered to 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 dedicated to improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and private sector clients, and 2009 revenues of nearly $60 billion, Medco ranks 35th on the 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.

SOURCE Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.; Accredo Health Group, Inc.