Ferring Celebrates Winners of 2011 My Little Miracle Essay Contest During National Infertility Awareness Week

PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating National Infertility Awareness Week, April 22-28, 2012, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is honoring three lucky families who won its national 2011 My Little Miracle Essay Contest for their heart-warming and inspirational stories about their journey to parenthood. The contest celebrates the birth of children who were conceived using Ferring's MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection, USP) and/or BRAVELLE® (urofollitropin for injection, purified). Each of the three contest winners receives an education fund to support their child's future.

The 2011 grand prize winner, Kathryn Hale of St. Petersburg, FL, received a $10,000  education fund for her twin sons. After struggling with infertility for two years, Kathryn and her husband Brian's dreams of parenthood were nearly over. However, with the help of reproductive endocrinologist, Jim Toner, MD and his staff at Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine and Ferring fertility treatments, they are now the proud parents of two little miracles.

"My husband and I were overjoyed to learn that we were the grand prize winner of this year's My Little Miracle essay contest," said Kathryn. "With so many families struggling to conceive, we hope our story conveys a sincere message of hope, to believe in your dreams of parenthood, and to never give up. We are incredibly blessed to have amazing twin boys and now a head start on their education, both thanks to Ferring."

"We received so many heartwarming, inspirational stories that it was hard to choose a winner," said Joy Lewin, Business Unit Head, Reproductive Health, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. "Kathryn and Brian's story of overcoming the challenges that couples face when undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and their unrelenting determination to have a baby, had a wonderful, twofold ending. We are delighted that our treatments played a role in their success and that we were able to share their story of hope during National Infertility Awareness Week." 

The second-place contest winner, Laura Capps of Washington, D.C., received an education fund of $7,500, and the third-place winner, Christine Nagel of Bethel Park, PA, won a $5,000 education fund. 

Kathryn's Story

Kathryn and her husband Brian met on a blind date in 2004 and just a year and a day later, they were married and eager to start a family.  After six unsuccessful months of trying to conceive naturally, Kathryn knew something wasn't right. With a reproductive endocrinology nurse as her best friend, she knew that the next step was to make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist. After normal results from a round of tests and examinations, Kathryn's doctor suggested that she undergo intrauterine inseminations (IUIs).  Unfortunately, after three failed IUIs, followed by one failed IVF cycle, and a doctor who said it was likely that all future IVF cycles would be a failure, Kathryn and Brian's world went black. 

After a few months of soul-searching and trying to determine a path to parenthood, Kathryn felt deep down inside that her best friend and nurse at Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine, was going to help make parenthood a reality. Therefore, under the care of her reproductive medicine team at Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine, Kathryn tried IVF for the second time. She used MENOPUR and BRAVELLE which resulted in more than 20 healthy, viable eggs. On her grandparent's wedding anniversary, two blastocysts were transferred into Kathryn's uterus and less than nine months after receiving the much-anticipated news from her best friend that "you're going to have a baby," the couple gave birth to twin boys, Jameson and Walker.

"No matter how difficult our journey was to parenthood, we are infinitely blessed with the gift of being parents to Jameson and Walker," wrote Kathryn. "Our story has a happy ending and one that has guaranteed that my smile is at least one inch wider now, making even the hardest parts of our journey cherished."

About MENOPUR and BRAVELLE

MENOPUR administered subcutaneously (SC) is indicated for the development of multiple follicles and pregnancy in the ovulatory patients participating in an ART program.  BRAVELLE administered SC in conjunction with hCG is indicated for multiple follicular development (controlled ovarian stimulation) during ART cycles in patients who have previously received pituitary suppression.  BRAVELLE administered SC or IM, in conjunction with hCG, is indicated for ovulation induction in patients who have previously received pituitary suppression.

Important Safety Information

MENOPUR and BRAVELLE are contraindicated in women who have: a high FSH level indicating primary ovarian failure; uncontrolled thyroid and adrenal dysfunction; an organic intracranial lesion such as a pituitary tumor; sex hormone-dependent tumors of the reproductive tract and accessory organs; abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin; ovarian cysts or enlargement not due to polycystic ovary syndrome.  BRAVELLE is contraindicated in women who have the presence of any cause of infertility other than anovulation. MENOPUR is contraindicated in women who have prior hypersensitivity to menotropins or MENOPUR. BRAVELLE is contraindicated in women with a prior hypersensitivity to urofollitropins, purified. MENOPUR and BRAVELLE are not indicated in women who are pregnant.  BRAVELLE may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.

MENOPUR and BRAVELLE should only be used by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with infertility problems.  MENOPUR and BRAVELLE are potent gonadotropic substances capable of causing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) (overall IVF incidence of 3.8% for MENOPUR, 6.0% for BRAVELLE), with or without pulmonary or vascular complications, in women undergoing therapy for infertility.  Serious pulmonary conditions and thromboembolic events have been reported with MENOPUR and BRAVELLE. 

Multiple pregnancies have occurred following treatment with MENOPUR and BRAVELLE.

The most common adverse reactions (>%) reported in IVF clinical trials (N=499) of MENOPUR were headache, abdominal pain, and nausea.

The most common adverse reactions (>%) reported in an IVF clinical trial and donor IVF study (N=150) of BRAVELLE SC were abdominal cramps and headache.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a subsidiary of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a privately owned, international pharmaceutical company.  Ferring Pharmaceuticals offers a line of products in the U.S. market.  They include: BRAVELLE (urofollitropin for injection, purified), MENOPUR (menotropins for injection, USP), REPRONEX® (menotropins for injection, USP), NOVAREL® (chorionic gonadotropin for injection, USP), ENDOMETRIN® (progesterone) Vaginal Insert, 100 mg, LYSTEDA® (tranexamic acid) tablets, FIRMAGON® (degarelix for injection), DESMOPRESSIN, and EUFLEXXA® (1% sodium hyaluronate).  For more information, call 1-888-FERRING (1-888-337-7464) or visit www.FerringUSA.com.

Please visit www.ferringfertility.com  for Full Prescribing Information for MENOPUR and BRAVELLE.

SOURCE Ferring Pharmaceuticals