Diplomat to Dispense Taiho Drug, LONSURF® (trifluridine and tipiracil)

FLINT, Mich., Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO) announced that it will be one of the Specialty Pharmacies offering LONSURF^® (trifluridine and tipiracil) combination tablet, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for the treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

LONSURF is indicated for the treatment of patients with mCRC who have been previously treated with fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, an anti-VEGF biological therapy, and if RAS wild-type, an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. In the U.S. there were an estimated 136,830 patients diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum in 2014, and in 2012, there were an estimated 1.1 million individuals living with the disease. Of those, about 27,400 patients will have had their cancer spread to another part of the body. Of those, about 27,400 patients will have had their cancer spread to another part of the body.

"Here at Diplomat, we are focused on current treatment of those with unmet needs for colorectal cancer," said Gary Kadlec, president of Diplomat. "We are proud to be one of the Pharmacies having LONSURF available to physicians as a new treatment option for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer."

Important Safety Information

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Severe Myelosuppression: In Study 1, LONSURF caused severe and life-threatening myelosuppression (Grade 3-4) consisting of anemia (18%), neutropenia (38%), thrombocytopenia (5%) and febrile neutropenia (3.8%). One patient (0.2%) died due to neutropenic infection. In Study 1, 9.4% of LONSURF-treated patients received granulocyte-colony stimulating factors.

Obtain complete blood counts prior to and on Day 15 of each cycle of LONSURF and more frequently as clinically indicated. Withhold LONSURF for febrile neutropenia, Grade 4 neutropenia, or platelets less than 50,000/mm³. Upon recovery resume LONSURF at a reduced dose.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: LONSURF can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with LONSURF.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Lactation: It is not known whether LONSURF or its metabolites are present in human milk. There are no data to assess the effects of LONSURF or its metabolites on the breastfed infant or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfeeding infants, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with LONSURF and for one day following the final dose.

Male Contraception: Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use condoms during treatment with LONSURF and for at least 3 months after the final dose.

Geriatric Use: Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and Grade 3 anemia occurred more commonly in patients 65 years old or older who received LONSURF.

Renal Impairment: Patients with moderate renal impairment may require dose modifications for increased toxicity.

Hepatic Impairment: Patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment were not enrolled in Study 1.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
Most Common Adverse Drug Reactions in Patients Treated with LONSURF (>/=5%): The most common adverse drug reactions in LONSURF-treated patients vs placebo-treated patients with refractory mCRC, respectively, were: asthenia/fatigue (52% vs 35%), nausea (48% vs 24%), decreased appetite (39% vs 29%), diarrhea (32% vs 12%), vomiting (28% vs 14%), abdominal pain (21% vs 18%), pyrexia (19% vs 14%), stomatitis (8% vs 6%), dysgeusia (7% vs 2%), and alopecia (7% vs 1%).

Additional Important Adverse Drug Reactions: The following occurred more frequently in LONSURF-treated patients compared to placebo: infections (27% vs 15%) and pulmonary emboli (2% vs 0%).

Interstitial lung disease has been reported in clinical studies and clinical practice settings in Asia.

Laboratory Test Abnormalities in Patients Treated with LONSURF: Laboratory test abnormalities in LONSURF-treated patients vs placebo-treated patients with refractory mCRC, respectively, were: anemia (77% vs 33%), neutropenia (67% vs 1%), and thrombocytopenia (42% vs 8%).

Please see full prescribing information for LONSURF at https://www.taihooncology.com/us/prescribing-information.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. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. 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. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, you should review Diplomat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Risk Factors" in Diplomat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable laws, 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.

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.

To learn more about Diplomat, visit www.diplomat.is.

About Taiho Oncology, Inc. (U.S.)

Taiho Oncology, Inc., a subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., has established a world class clinical development organization that works urgently to develop innovative cancer treatments and has built a commercial business in the U.S. Taiho has an oral oncology pipeline consisting of both novel antimetabolic agents and selectively targeted agents. Advanced technology, dedicated researchers, and state of the art facilities are helping us to define the way the world treats cancer. It's our work; it's our passion; it's our legacy.

For more information about Taiho Oncology, please visit: www.taihooncology.com 

About Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Taiho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., is an R&D-driven specialty pharma focusing on the three fields of oncology, allergies and immunology, and urology. Its corporate philosophy takes the form of a pledge: "We strive to improve human health and contribute to a society enriched by smiles." In the field of oncology in particular, Taiho Pharmaceutical is known as a leading company in Japan and around the world for developing innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer. In areas other than oncology, as well, the company creates quality products that effectively treat medical conditions and can help improve people's quality of life. Always putting customers first, Taiho Pharmaceutical aims to also offer over-the-counter medicinal products that support people's efforts to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.

For more information about Taiho Pharmaceutical, please visit http://www.taiho.co.jp/english/.

About Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan)

The Otsuka Group is a global organization of 176 healthcare companies with nearly 43,000 employees (including unconsolidated subsidiaries). Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. is the Group's holding company. The Group operates in 27 countries and regions, conducting diversified businesses in four segments all connected by a focus on health: pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, consumer products, and others.

The Group's corporate philosophy of "Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide," is supported by the corporate ethic of "JISSHO (Proof through Execution) and SOZOSEI (Creativity)." The Otsuka Group thus seeks to foster a culture and vitality appropriate to an enterprise involved with human health and to create innovative products that contribute to the health and wellness of people worldwide.

For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.otsuka.com/en/.

LONSURF is a registered trademark of Taiho Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd. used under license by Taiho Oncology, Inc.

CONTACT:
Kali Lucas, Public Relations Coordinator
810.768.9580 | [email protected]

Gary Rice, RPh, MS, MBA, CSP, Vice President,
Clinical Services
810.768.9863 | [email protected]

Craig Heit, GCI Health on behalf of Taiho Oncology
212.798.9919 | [email protected]

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SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.

Related Links

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