AstraZeneca Takes a More Personal Approach to Connecting with NEXIUM® (esomeprazole magnesium) Patients

WILMINGTON, Del., July 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the US today, affecting more than 60 million Americans each month.¹ To help educate consumers about NEXIUM, a prescription treatment option for those diagnosed with GERD, as well as support and empower those living with the condition, AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) has launched resources ranging from disease information to video and interactive content via the NEXIUM® YouTube channel.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62163-astrazeneca-nexium-youtube-channel-acid-reflux-symptom-relief 

"The majority of patients today use social media to source health and wellness information," said Ken Graham, Commercial Business Leader, GI, AstraZeneca. "With more than one billion unique users visiting YouTube each month, the NEXIUM YouTube channel puts everything from background on GERD to information on cost savings for NEXIUM at patients' fingertips."

By visiting the NEXIUM YouTube channel, patients can find:

• "Burning thoughts" on controlling GERD symptoms: lifestyle or dietary changes that can go a long way in providing relief. New "burning thoughts" will be posted to the channel each week 
• Engaging videos on acid reflux disease and NEXIUM as a treatment option: informative visual content that provides background on the role of stomach acid in digesting food and how NEXIUM works by inhibiting proton pumps in the stomach. A second video overviews important safety information and indications for NEXIUM
• Relief is at Hand "shareable" badge: a social way for patients to share information about NEXIUM with their friends and family. The badge is a way for patients to show their commitment to fighting GERD, and patients will be able to "pass the purple" with the badge on Facebook and Twitter

"For more than two decades, AstraZeneca has been a leader in developing medications and educational resources for gastrointestinal diseases," said Marta Illueca, Executive Director Medical Affairs and Strategic Development for Cornerstone Brands. "The NEXIUM channel represents a new and innovative way through which we're looking to reach and engage patients."

AstraZeneca in Gastrointestinal Diseases    
Since the FDA first approved NEXIUM in 2001, it has been prescribed more than 236 million times.² The new tools for patients suffering from GERD build on AstraZeneca's strong legacy and commitment to this therapeutic space.

About the NEXIUM Savings Card    
It is simple to save on NEXIUM. With the NEXIUM Savings Card, most eligible patients will pay just $18 per month. Individual out-of-pocket costs may vary. Please see eligibility for details. Other restrictions may apply.

Important Safety Information About NEXIUM

• Symptom relief does not rule out the presence of other serious stomach conditions
• NEXIUM may increase your risk of getting severe diarrhea. Call your doctor right away if you have watery stool, stomach pain and fever that does not go away
• Talk to your doctor about your risk for:
  • bone fractures if you take multiple daily doses of NEXIUM for a long period of time
  • low magnesium levels if you take NEXIUM for a long period of time
• Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, prescription and non-prescription drugs, including clopidogrel, vitamins and herbal supplements. NEXIUM may affect how other medicines work and other medicines may affect how NEXIUM works.
• Side effects with NEXIUM include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain

Approved Uses for NEXIUM   
NEXIUM is prescribed to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease, which typically include persistent heartburn on 2 or more days per week, despite treatment and change of diet.

For many people, NEXIUM is also prescribed to heal damage to the esophagus called erosive esophagitis. This damage may be caused over time from stomach acid wearing away the lining of the esophagus. Only a doctor can diagnose this condition. With NEXIUM, most erosions heal in 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with NEXIUM may vary.

Please see Prescribing Information.

Please see Medication Guide.

Visit www.youtube.com/AZPurpleZone or PurplePill.com for more information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatchor call 1-800-FDA-1088.

NOTES TO EDITORS    
GERD is the underlying cause of more than 18 million physician and hospital visits, 3.1 million hospitalizations and over 1,000 deaths in the US.³

About AstraZeneca    
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).

NEXIUM and the color purple as applied to the capsule are registered trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

AZ&Me is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.  

Media Inquiries:

Stephanie Andrzejewski +1 302 885 8896    

References

1. American College of Gastroenterology. Acid Reflux. 2013. Accessed June 3, 2013. http://patients.gi.org/topics/acid-reflux/.
2. IMS NPA database, last accessed July 2011.
3. Everhart JE, ed. The Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2008. NIH Publication 09–6433.

SOURCE AstraZeneca