Takeda Canada launches YOURVANTAGE™ patient support program
May 18, 2015
Canadians prescribed ENTYVIO™ (vedolizumab) will be the first to benefit from new personalized program OAKVILLE, Ontario – May 19, 2015 – Takeda Canada Inc. has launched YOURVANTAGE™, a patient support program for Canadians. The first patients to benefit from this personalized program will be Canadians who are prescribed ENTYVIO™ (vedolizumab), a new biologic treatment for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), now available in Canada. Every Canadian patient prescribed ENTYVIO™ will be enrolled in YOURVANTAGE™, which is operated by Takeda Canada’s partner, Innomar Strategies Inc. (Innomar). Following enrolment in the YOURVANTAGE™ patient support program, appointments will be arranged for patients to receive ENTYVIO™ by intravenous infusion at one of the Innomar clinics across Canada closest to them. The program was designed to ensure that a network of infusion clinics is conveniently available to patients within 50 km or one hour of travelling time from their home or their physicians’ offices. YOURVANTAGE™ will also provide patients with information about their disease and the treatment, as well as customized advice about securing insurance or other reimbursement, based on their coverage and situation. The YOURVANTAGE™ program has a full website available to registered participants at www.yourvantage.ca. “Takeda Canada recognizes that patient support goes beyond treatment. This support program was created to help patients on many levels and ensure they get the maximum benefit from their therapy and manage their disease in the best possible way,” said Mike Egli, President & CEO, Takeda Canada Inc. “We are very pleased to introduce the YOURVANTAGE™ support program to ENTYVIO™ patients and look forward to expanding the program in coming years to support patients on other Takeda therapies.”
About ENTYVIO™ ENTYVIO™ is the first and only gut-selective biologic therapy with no known systemic immunosuppressive effects and the only biologic treatment approved for use in UC patients who have had an inadequate response, loss of response or were intolerant to infliximab .ENTYVIO™ works by targeting the gut and reduces inflammation that causes the symptoms of UC. In a clinical study, GEMINI I, ENTYVIO™ demonstrated statistically significant benefits versus placebo over a year-long trial in patients who had failed previous treatments, including biologics. After 52 weeks, of those on ENTYVIO™ 57% had durable clinical response (vs. 24% on placebo, p<0.0001) and 42% had clinical remission (vs. 16% on placebo, p<0.0001). The tolerability profile of ENTYVIO™ was demonstrated in GEMINI I. Over 52 weeks, 12% of those treated with ENTYVIO™ had serious adverse events, compared to 11% on placebo. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 6% for those on ENTYVIO™ and 11% for those on placebo. This safety profile has been confirmed with clinical experience to date in more than 3,300 individuals. About ulcerative colitis More than 125,000 Canadians are living with UC, which causes the tissue of the large intestine (including the colon and rectum) to become inflamed, form sores and bleed easily. Along with symptoms of abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, UC can cause severe complications including intestinal bleeding and bowel obstructions. Sometimes a portion of the bowel needs to be surgically removed to bring patients relief. The exact cause of IBD is not entirely understood, though it is believed to result from an interaction between genes and the body’s immune system, with environmental factors possibly playing a role. About Innomar Strategies Inc. Located in Oakville, Ontario, Innomar Strategies (Innomar) is the leading service provider in the Canadian specialty pharmaceutical and biotech market. Through its uniquely integrated model, it provides full-service solutions to improve product access, increase supply chain efficiencies and enhance patient care. Innomar partners closely with manufacturers, healthcare providers, pharmacies and payers to ensure all the patients it services have consistent and reliable access to specialty products and treatment. Innomar is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmerisourceBergen Corporation, headquartered in Chesterbrook, PA, one of the largest pharmaceutical services companies in the world. For more information, go to www.innomar-strategies.com. About Takeda Canada Takeda Canada, located in Oakville, Ontario, is the Canadian sales and marketing organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Osaka, Japan. The company has a commercial presence covering more than 70 countries, with particular strength in Asia, North America, Europe and fast-growing emerging markets including Latin America, Russia-CIS and China. Areas of focus include cardiovascular and metabolic, oncology, respiratory and immunology, central nervous system, general medicine, and vaccines. Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to strive towards better health for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. Through strategic acquisitions, Takeda has been transforming itself, broadening its therapeutic expertise and geographic outreach. Additional information about Takeda Canada is available through its website: www.takedacanada.com.
