The following statement is being issued by Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC regarding In re Prograf Antitrust Litigation.
A lawsuit is currently pending claiming that Astellas Pharma US, Inc. (“Astellas” or “Defendant”) violated state antitrust, unfair competition, consumer protection, and unjust enrichment laws of certain states by delaying the availability of a less expensive generic version of the immunosuppressant prescription drug Prograf® (known as tacrolimus). Plaintiffs allege that Defendant’s conduct caused some consumers and third party payors to pay too much for Prograf in certain states from September 3, 2008 to December 31, 2010 (also referred to as the “Class Damage Period”). This lawsuit does not claim that Prograf is unsafe or ineffective. Astellas denies any wrongdoing.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7933851-prograf-antitrust-class-action-settlement/
Although the NHS is ranked as one of the institutions that makes people ‘most proud to be British’1, a new poll commissioned by Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd, highlights that 91% of people feel that the health service is in need of change2. In particular, shorter waiting times (36% of respondents) and improved access to medicines (30%) rank most highly as the areas in need of greatest reform.
With only 1 in 4 of respondents agreeing that the Government currently spends enough on health, the survey reveals that those polled would be willing to accept an average charge of £10 for a missed GP appointment in order to improve service levels. The people polled also said they would be willing to pay an average of £170 per year in additional income tax for healthcare funding – which could result in approximately £5 billion in additional tax revenue for the Treasury3. In addition to these charges, 39% of those polled would be willing to accept an additional charge if it meant quicker access to healthcare services and 44% of those polled would be willing to accept additional charges if it meant access to newer and potentially more effective medicines.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7753151-astellas-survey-public-support-nhs-concern/
Seeking to support men and their loved ones facing the challenges that come with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, USA Rugby, the Australian Rugby Union and Astellas Pharma have partnered to launch the #pass4prostate challenge, a social media campaign designed to generate awareness of prostate cancer and support a donation of up to $125,000 from Astellas to four research and advocacy organizations: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Australia Prostate Cancer Research, Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia and Prostate Cancer Canada.
From August 5 through the end of September – Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – social media users are encouraged to record a video of themselves catching an inanimate object, mentioning why prostate cancer awareness is important to them, and then passing that object, rugby-style, symbolically to a friend or family member. Astellas will donate $5 to prostate cancer advocacy organizations for every qualifying submission with the #pass4prostate hashtag posted to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, up to a maximum contribution of $125,000.
To view the multimedia release visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7579051-pass4prostate-challenge-rugby-astellas/
Results from a large retrospective data analysis published in the American Journal of Transplantation (AJT) today, showed that liver transplantation patients who were treated early with Advagraf experienced a significantly increased graft survival benefit of 8% at 3 years post-transplant compared with patients treated with the current standard of care, tacrolimus immediate release (twice daily).
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7451251-advagraf-prolonged-release-tacrolimus/
Professor Lionel Tarassenko, CBE, Head of Engineering at the University of Oxford and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Medical Sciences, has joined a panel of internationally recognised experts for the 3rd Astellas Innovation Debate: i-Genes – What the DNA and Data Revolutions mean for our Health, taking place on Thursday 29th January 2015 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
As the worlds of science and technology come together, the 2015 Astellas Innovation Debate, organised and funded by Astellas, will discuss recent breakthroughs in genetic medicine and smart technology, and what they mean for our health.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7432051-lionel-tarassenko-astellas-debate/
Advanced technology has the power to transform healthcare, a world leader in the field of genomicsDr Leroy Hood, has said ahead of the 3rd Astellas Innovation Debate: i-Genes – What the DNA and Data Revolutions mean for our Health, taking place on Thursday 29th January 2015 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7430051-dr-leroy-hood-astellas-debate/
Personalised Medicine is the future of cancer treatment, but it presents major challenges for doctors and health services, the President of the European Society of Medical Oncology has said. Professor Rolf Stahel was speaking ahead of the 3rd Astellas Innovation Debate: i-Genes – What the DNA and Data Revolutions mean for our Health, taking place on Thursday 29th January 2015 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7430351-professor-rolf-stahel-astellas-debate/
Barrister, peer and Vice-President of the Patients Association Baroness Helena Kennedy has joined a panel of internationally recognised experts for the 3rd Astellas Innovation Debate: i-Genes – What the DNA and Data Revolutions mean for our Health, taking place on Thursday 29th January 2015 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
Organised and funded by Astellas, a progressive pharmaceutical company that explores the frontiers of scientific discovery to translate new knowledge into innovative, reliable medicines, the Astellas Innovation Debates are a series of annual events that bring together some of the world’s most progressive thinkers to discuss the role of innovation in solving some of the greatest challenges of our time.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7424051-helena-kennedy-astellas-debate/
George Freeman MP, the Minister for Life Sciences, will give the keynote address at the 3rd Astellas Innovation Debate: i-Genes – What the DNA and Data Revolutions mean for our Health, taking place on Thursday 29th January 2015 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
Organised and funded by Astellas, a progressive pharmaceutical company that explores the frontiers of scientific discovery to translate new knowledge into innovative, reliable medicines, the Astellas Innovation Debates are a series of annual events that bring together some of the world’s most progressive thinkers to discuss the role of innovation in solving some of the greatest challenges of our time.
George Freeman’s keynote address will outline the Government’s aim to develop, assess and adopt new drugs, devices and diagnostics as we move towards 21st century, personalised healthcare.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7423951-george-freeman-astellas-debate/
Urgent action is needed to improve the diagnosis and management of CDI, which is the main cause of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) diarrhoea in industrialised countries.2 In a report launched today, during a meeting hosted by the European Healthcare and Hospital Federation (HOPE), experts from across Europe highlight the current deficiencies in the management of CDI and outline the steps that are needed to address them.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60637-astellas-report-diagnosis-management-CDI
Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. today presented The Economist Innovation 2011 award for Bioscience to one of the world’s most influential biomedical engineers, Dr Robert Langer – the man responsible for founding the field of controlled-release drug delivery and tissue engineering.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/astellaspharma/52158/
Raising public awareness of peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP), The Pain Within is a touring exhibition of major European cities which launched today at the 7th congress of the European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC) in Hamburg. Top photographer Alex Telfer has worked with patients to capture their experiences in both portraits and visual metaphors for the exhibition, which is sponsored by Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. It will then tour in other countries in Europe.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/astellastrade/52120/