Eisai To Sponsor 7th Annual National Walk For Epilepsy To Help Raise Epilepsy Awareness

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc. announced today that it is a silver level sponsor of the Epilepsy Foundation's 7^th Annual National Walk for Epilepsy, a family-oriented, non-competitive event to raise awareness and funds to continue fighting to stop seizures, find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy. The Walk, which unites thousands of families living with epilepsy each year, will feature activities beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2013, on the Washington Monument grounds in Washington, D.C.

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In addition to the Walk, Eisai is working with 4 Paws for Ability, an organization that trains and places service dogs with children with a variety of needs, including those with epilepsy. Seizure assistance dogs, in particular, are taught to alert children and families when the child is about to have a seizure, and get help in the event of a seizure. The dogs also provide valuable emotional support during medical procedures as well as in daily life.

At Eisai's event booth during the Walk, families will have the opportunity to meet and greet Jeremy Dulebohn, training director at 4 Paws for Ability, and his demo dog Brody. A 14-year-old who has epilepsy and her dog will also greet visitors at the booth.

"Having a service dog can give children and their families confidence and independence that will enrich their lives," said Dulebohn. "We hear countless stories about parents who worry that they may miss their child having a seizure. When we place the service dogs, we often hear that the dog has given these families their lives back. We at 4 Paws for Ability would like to thank Eisai for their partnership and help raising awareness of this life-changing resource for the epilepsy community."

Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. According to the Institute of Medicine, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting 2.2 million people in the United States. Beyond providing a place of support for the community, the National Walk for Epilepsy has raised more than $5 million in the past five years for epilepsy research as well as programs and services for people with epilepsy.

"Epilepsy is a therapeutic area of focus for Eisai and we are proud to support the Epilepsy Foundation and 4 Paws for Ability at the National Walk for Epilepsy," said Christine Verini, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Advocacy, Eisai Inc. "These partnerships support our human health care (hhc) mission of keeping the unmet medical needs of patients and their families at the forefront of all that we do."

For more information on 4 Paws for Ability, please visit www.4PawsForAbility.org. For more information on the Epilepsy Foundation's National Walk for Epilepsy, please visit www.WalkForEpilepsy.org.

About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. was established in 1995 and began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997. Since that time, Eisai Inc. has rapidly grown to become a fully integrated pharmaceutical business. Eisai's key areas of commercial focus are neurology and oncology. The company serves as the U.S. pharmaceutical operation of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. 

Eisai has a global product creation organization that includes U.S.-based R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as manufacturing facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. The company's areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs. For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com/US.

SOURCE Eisai Inc.