LivaNova PLC (NASDAQ:LIVN; LSE: LIVN) (“LivaNova” or the “Company”), a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, today recognizes that more than one million people in the United States with drug-resistant epilepsy continue to be treated unsuccessfully with drugs, despite the proven effectiveness of non-drug treatment options. LivaNova’s VNS Therapy®, for example, is a medical device treatment specifically designed for people with drug-resistant epilepsy that is already used by more than 85,000 people around the world.
One in three people with epilepsy has the type that is not well controlled with drugs, called drug-resistant epilepsy. For those people, prescribing more medicine is usually not the most effective option. In fact, research shows that if you haven’t found seizure freedom after your first two drugs, there is a 95 percent chance that no drug or combination of drugs will result in seizure freedom.
“Despite what we know about drug-resistant epilepsy, the majority of people affected by this condition will continue to be prescribed additional medications instead of being evaluated for surgery or seen in a specialized epilepsy facility,” said Jason Richey, president of LivaNova’s U.S. Region and general manager of the Neuromodulation Business Franchise. “This treatment gap means over one million individuals in the U.S. with undertreated epilepsy remain at risk for dangerous side effects of continued seizures, including injury, depression, memory issues and death.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7966451-livanova-vns-therapy-epilepsy/
The Epilepsy Foundation launched the “Talk About It!” public service announcement featuring actor Greg Grunberg to raise awareness and encourage open dialogue about epilepsy and seizures. Greg, best known for his roles on Heroes, Alias, and Felicity, has an adult son who lives with epilepsy, a condition that affects nearly 3 million Americans. The Epilepsy Foundation and Greg teamed up for this PSA, sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., to drive much needed conversation about epilepsy – bringing the condition out of the shadows and honoring a community that deserves better awareness and understanding. More information about the PSA and initiative can be found by visiting the Epilepsy Foundation at epilepsy.com.
Following FDA approval of the AspireSR® generator for the VNS Therapy® system in June 2015, more than a thousand patients with drug-resistant epilepsy across the United States have received this new treatment option. Many of these patients are experiencing benefits which have positively impacted their lives – and are sharing their stories during Epilepsy Awareness Month with the hope of encouraging others to seek new treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy. Numerous hospitals nationwide have begun providing the AspireSR device to patients with drug-resistant epilepsy – a condition that affects as many as one-third of people with epilepsy, causing them to have seizures in spite of treatment with antiepileptic medications.
The VNS Therapy system is a minimally invasive option in which a medical device is placed under the skin in the upper chest area during an outpatient procedure. The device sends mild electrical pulses through the vagus nerve to areas of the brain known to be associated with seizures. The new AspireSR generator takes the VNS Therapy technology a step further – detecting relative heart-rate increases that are often associated with seizures in people with epilepsy and providing responsive stimulation in an attempt to stop and shorten seizures and improve recovery.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7651751-livanova-aspiresr-treatment/
WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD), the leading source of health information, today released Marijuana on Main Street, a special report that provides an in-depth look at the debate over medical marijuana. As numerous states consider bills to legalize medical marijuana, WebMD surveyed nearly 3,000 consumers and Medscape surveyed more than 1,500 doctors about their attitudes regarding legalization, marijuana as a potential treatment option, and the perceived risks and benefits of its use to help shed light on this evolving issue.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7040258-webmd-medscape-medical-marijuana-report
Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., today announced the addition of the topic Sleep Disorders and Epilepsy to its epilepsy-focused educational website, Epilog.us. The site now features a review of the relationship between epilepsy and sleep disorders.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59872-epilog-us-expert-discussion-comorbidity-of-sleep-disorders-and-seizures
Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. [http://www.upsher-smith.com] today announced that its epilepsy-focused educational website, http://www.Epilog.us, has been expanded to include thought-leader commentary on issues related to Epilepsy and Comorbidities. The newly updated website will make its debut at the 64th Annual American Academy of Neurology Meeting in New Orleans on April 23 – 26, 2012, at the Upsher-Smith exhibit, booth number 128.
TO view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55934-upsher-smith-expands-epilog-us-on-epilepsy-comorbidities
The Epilepsy Foundation’s National Epilepsy Awareness Month gets a boost from Paramount Pictures and JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions with a red carpet affair and after party for Morning Glory, starring Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Rachel McAdams.
The event benefits TalkAboutIt.org, created by Greg Grunberg (star of the upcoming NBC series ‘LOVE BITES’) in collaboration with the Epilepsy Foundation. Grunberg, the father of a child with epilepsy, and chair of the National Walk for Epilepsy since its inception, joins the Foundation to educate people about seizures, including the proper first aid of never putting anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/epilepsyfoundation/47010/
