Mission Pharmacal Expands Into Long-Term Care Market

SAN ANTONIO, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Pharmacal Company is introducing a portfolio of proven products into the long-term care environment. The company has always held steadfast to its dedication to provide the highest quality healthcare medications and treatments for a wide range of conditions and diseases.

The long-term care (LTC) initiative capitalizes on the resources at Mission that have fueled the tremendous expansion and growth the company has been experiencing in recent years. "We are fortunate to have an extremely talented and experienced team leading both our long-term care efforts and the therapeutic areas this team is focused on," says Terry Herring, President of Commercial Operations. With the new combination of broadened employee skillsets and continued ingenuity, Mission is discovering new platforms for unique products to help improve the quality of life for those in need. "Mission has always had patients' best interests as their top priority," notes Phill Dritsas, Senior Vice President of Specialty Marketing. "Along with some of our unique current products we are already developing new offerings specifically designed to enhance the quality of care for nursing home residents."

In the nursing home environment, the medical needs of the elderly can offer significant challenges. For example, one of the products that Mission recently introduced to the LTC market is BINOSTO®*, a prescription product that is an effervescent alendronate sodium oral solution for the treatment of osteoporosis in post menopausal women and treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis. While osteoporosis is prevalent among nursing home residents, so is dysphagia, the inability or difficulty patients can have swallowing pills. Bisphosphonates are the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis treatmentⁱ. Patients who are unable to swallow pills could not easily take alendronate treatment for their osteoporosis. BINOSTO has changed that. It is the first and only alendronate sodium tablet that can be dissolved in water to create a buffered solution for the treatment of osteoporosis.

According to the CDC, fifty percent of nursing home residents will fall at least once this year. Naturally, good bone health is foremost on the minds of the health care teams and taking calcium and vitamin D is a proven standard of treatment. Each serving of Mission's Calcet® Creamy Bites** provides calcium and vitamin D for better bone health. In addition, each piece contains 500 mg elemental calcium from calcium citrate, the most readily-absorbed form of calcium, along with 400 IU vitamin D3.

Dry mouth or xerostomia is a very common condition in the LTC setting. On average, nursing home residents can be on 8 to 12 medications per day which can increase the possibility of side effects like dry mouth. Another new Mission product, Aquoral®***, is a unique and effective prescription oral spray that moistens and lubricates the mouth for up to four hours with no known side effects. A single dose is just two sprays into the mouth; no spitting or rinsing required.  More information on this innovative therapy including full prescribing information is available at aquoral.com.

By bringing all of these products together, with more to follow, Mission is working with LTC providers to help healthcare professionals improve quality of care for their patients.

Moving forward, Mission will be searching for other products that support LTC providers in three of the company's primary therapeutic areas: urology, women's health, and dermatology. In addition, according to Mr. Herring, this latest movement may not end with long-term care. "If the company can uncover other under-served market segments where a combination of Mission's products can make an impact," he says, "we will certainly take a closer look and likely take similar steps so we can help those in need."

* About BINOSTO
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
BINOSTO® (alendronate sodium) effervescent tablets is a prescription medication for oral solution 70 mg is a bisphosphonate indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.

Important Limitations of Use
The optimal duration of use has not been determined. All patients on bisphosphonate therapy should have the need for continued therapy reevaluated on a periodic basis. Patients at low risk for fracture should be considered for drug discontinuation after 3 to 5 years of use. Patients who discontinue therapy should have their risk for fracture reevaluated periodically.

Important Safety Information
BINOSTO is contraindicated in patients with the following conditions:

• Abnormalities of the esophagus which delay esophageal emptying such as stricture or achalasia
• Inability to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes
• Increased risk of aspiration
• Hypocalcemia
• Hypersensitivity to any component of this product. Hypersensitivity reactions including urticaria and angioedema have been reported

Upper Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions can occur. Instruct patients to follow dosing instructions. Discontinue if new or worsening symptoms occur. Hypocalcemia can worsen and must be corrected prior to use. Severe Bone, Joint, Muscle Pain may occur. Discontinue use if severe symptoms develop. Osteonecrosis of the Jaw has been reported. Atypical Femur Fractures have been reported. Patients with new thigh or groin pain should be evaluated to rule out a femoral fracture. Sodium Content: Each tablet contains 650 mg sodium, equivalent to 1650 mg NaCl. Use caution in patients on sodium restriction.

In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 3%) are abdominal pain, acid regurgitation, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, musculoskeletal pain, and nausea.

Calcium supplements, antacids or oral medications containing multivalent cations interfere with absorption of alendronate. Use caution when co-prescribing aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that may worsen gastrointestinal irritation. Patients should be instructed that if they develop symptoms of esophageal disease (such as difficulty or pain upon swallowing, retrosternal pain, or new or worsening heartburn) they should stop taking BINOSTO and consult their physician.

Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide available at binosto.com.

** About Calcet Creamy Bites
Creamy Bites are a calcium supplement.  Each piece contains 500 mg Calcium and 400 IU Vitamin D. Adequate calcium and vitamin D as part of a healthy diet, along with physical activity, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.

More information is available at creamybites.com.

*** About Aquoral
INDICATIONS: Aquoral is available by prescription and is intended to provide relief from chronic and temporary xerostomia (dry mouth), which may be a result of disease such as Sjogren's Syndrome, oral inflammation, medication, chemo or radiotherapy, stress or aging. Aquoral relieves symptoms of dry mouth such as difficulties in swallowing, speech, and changes in taste.

Important Safety Information
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Aquoral is contraindicated for any patient with a known history of hypersensitivity to any of its ingredients.

PRECAUTIONS: Read package insert carefully before using this spray. Avoid contact with eyes. Flush eyes with water if accidental introduction into eyes should occur.

INTERACTIONS: There are no known interactions with medicinal or other products.

Please see full Prescribing Information available at aquoral.com.

About Mission Pharmacal Company

ⁱ Kurt Kennel, MD, specialist in endocrinology at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN.

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SOURCE Mission Pharmacal Company