"Fly to Fight Sepsis" Takes Off on World Sepsis Day

"We are proud to partner with the Rory Staunton Foundation on this important mission," said Dr. Alan Wright, chief medical officer of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "Given the prevalence of sepsis in the US – more than 1.6 million annual hospitalizations  - we are committed to advancing understanding of sepsis and encourage more urgency around awareness, assessment and prevention."   

In 2016, Roche Diagnostics introduced Elecsys BRAHMS procalcitonin (PCT) assay as a dedicated testing solution to assess the severity of a bacterial infection and improve the management of people with sepsis. With this clearance, Roche was the first in vitro diagnostics company to provide a fully integrated solution for sepsis risk assessment and management.

Fly to Fight Sepsis was inspired by aviation enthusiast, Rory Staunton, who died from sepsis at the age of 12 after an infection he developed from scraping his arm in gym class was misdiagnosed. The campaign will provide information and resources about sepsis, and also include an easy and engaging call-to –action that can be shared on social media.

"We are delighted to collaborate with Roche Diagnostics on this very special campaign that honors our son Rory's love for flying," said Ciaran Staunton, founder of Rory Stanton Foundation and Rory's father.  "Public understanding and elevated awareness among clinicians and hospitals will help our mission to spare families the pain and heartbreak we endured."

Speakers at the Fourth National Forum on Sepsis will also include Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA), and Denise Cardo, Director, Division of Healthcare & Quality Promotion (DHQP), Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).  In addition to Fly to Fight Sepsis, a new sepsis education program will be introduced into New York State curriculum for students K - 12.

State legislators will also be encouraged to follow New York State's lead on adopting Rory's Regulations, which require hospitals to establish an evidence-based sepsis protocol to ensure the proactive and standardized approach to patients suspected of sepsis. The impact of Rory's Regulations has been rapid and significant in New York.

About Sepsis

• Sepsis affects 30 million people yearly
• Someone is diagnosed with sepsis every 20 seconds in the U.S. and the incidence of cases is rising 8% every year
• In the U.S., more than 250,000 people die from sepsis every year
• As many as 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with rapid diagnosis and treatment

About Roche

Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people's lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Twenty-nine medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognized as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry eight years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2016 employed more than 94,000 people worldwide. In 2016, Roche invested CHF 9.9 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 50.6 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com or usdiagnostics.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

About the Rory Staunton Foundation
September is Sepsis awareness month and The Rory Staunton Foundation has released a short animated video Sepsis: What You Need to Know to Save a Life. In less than two minutes, the video gives viewers all the information they need about sepsis and its signs.  They have also published a read-along book for young children, co-authored by Orlaith & Kathleen Staunton. Ouch! I Got a Cut! is available now on Amazon and emphasizes a 'back to basics' approach to wound care: When you get a Cut - Clean and Cover! The simple, three pronged approach prevents infection and saves lives. Learn more at:  https://rorystauntonfoundationforsepsis.org/

For further information, please contact:
Amanda Biedess 
Senior Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications
Roche Diagnostics Corporation
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 445-8716
[email protected]

SOURCE Roche Diagnostics

Related Links

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