Medication Non-Adherence Issue Highlighted in Annals of Internal Medicine Study Could Be Eliminated by a New Direct-to-Consumer Delivery Channel Ensuring Consistent Medication Appearance

SAN DIEGO, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MedVantx, Inc., the company that has built an innovative new direct-to-consumer prescription delivery channel in physician offices, MedStart Connect, today announced it eliminates many of the underlying issues related to medication non-adherence and hospital readmission rates specified in a study published in a recent issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.  In the study, researchers reported that frequent changes in generic medication pill color and shape of essential cardiovascular medications prescribed to patients after a heart attack significantly increased patient confusion and the odds of medication non-adherence.  The study suggests that this issue has substantial implications for suboptimal outcomes after heart attack and public health overall.    

MedStart Connect, a unique direct-to-consumer prescription medication delivery channel, ensures sustained continuity of appearance of generic medications.  By partnering exclusively with quality manufacturers, such as Teva Pharmaceuticals, the world's largest generic manufacturer, patients participating in MedStart Connect receive the same medication—same look, same quality—every time, whether as a MedStart Connect sample from the doctor's office or via the MedStart Connect Home Delivery program. 

"By partnering with MedVantx, we believe Teva is unique among generic manufacturers by providing not only quality, affordable medications, but also pioneering new ways to help patients enhance their medication adherence," said Maureen Cavanaugh, Sr. Vice President, U.S. Generics Sales and Marketing, Teva Pharmaceuticals.  "This is part of our commitment to improving healthcare overall."

As reported in Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers followed more than 11,000 patients after discharge from the hospital for a myocardial infarction (MI) to see if inconsistent appearance of their medication impacted their medication adherence.  Variation in the appearance of generic pills was found to be associated with a significant lack of adherence by patients to these essential drugs after MI.    The odds that a patient would stop taking a medication and not refill a prescription increased by 34% for a change in pill color and 66% for a change in shape.  The authors suggested this increase in medication non-adherence could lead to a significant impact on outcomes for patients and an overall increase in health care costs.         

"Our MedStart Connect Program is similar to the 'pharmacy home' strategy these researchers mention.  We provide patients coordinated, longitudinal pharmaceutical care, from the doctor's office sample and continuing through home delivery and telephone support," said Rob Feeney, CEO, MedVantx. "We are the only program of its kind that can help patients avoid inconsistent pill appearance throughout both their initial therapy and refill stages.  Particularly in patients such as post-MI, this is a key to achieving positive health outcomes and reducing the burden of chronic disease on public health."

About MedVantx, Inc.

MedVantx is an innovative medication management and delivery company committed to streamlining access, reducing costs and providing helpful information to benefit patients, physicians, health plans, employers and manufacturers. The MedStart Connect program provides for a fully-automated, integrated, point-of-care to consumer home delivery channel focused on increasing the quality and cost effectiveness of the last non-managed pharmaceutical channel – the physician office sample closet. MedStart Connect includes free initial therapy samples of prescription and over-the-counter medication at the point of care, a consumer helpline providing drug information, adherence management services, and convenient consumer home delivery through its mail order pharmacy.  MedVantx has served over 4 million consumers through an integrated network including health plans, manufacturers and more than 3,800 prescribers.  For additional information about MedVantx, visit www.medvantx.com.

About Teva

Teva North America is a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. In North America, Teva has locations in 13 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Puerto Rico and more than 9,000 employees. In fact, one in every eight prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. is a Teva product.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.  headquartered in Israel, is a leading global pharmaceutical company, committed to providing consumers with access to high-quality healthcare by developing, producing and marketing affordable generic, innovative and specialty products, as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The Company is the largest maker of generic pharmaceutical products, has a global product portfolio of more than 1,300 molecules and a direct presence in about 60 countries. The branded businesses focus on CNS, oncology, pain, respiratory and women's health therapeutic areas as well as biologics.

MedVantx Contact:
JD Haldeman
(858) 625-2990 ext. 130
[email protected]

SOURCE MedVantx, Inc.