Taltz® Now Available from Fairview Specialty Pharmacy for Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment
MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB) February 28, 2018 -- Fairview Specialty Pharmacy, the nation’s largest health-system-owned specialty pharmacy, announced today that it has been named to Eli Lilly and Company’s distribution network for Taltz® (ixekizumab), which is approved for treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Taltz, an injectable medication, is designed to target IL-17A, a protein that plays a role in driving underlying inflammation in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Taltz was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2016 for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. On Dec. 1, 2017, the FDA also approved Taltz for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis.
“We are excited to bring this advanced treatment option to adults diagnosed with severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, supported by our market-leading customer experience and proven capabilities,” said Kari Amundson, vice president of specialty development, Fairview Specialty Pharmacy. “Being part of the Taltz limited distribution network enables us to provide comprehensive care to patients who see physicians at our Fairview and University of Minnesota Health clinics, as well as customers we serve across the United States.”
The FDA approval of Taltz came after clinical trials demonstrated significant benefits from this medication for easing the extent and severity of plaque psoriasis.
For patients with psoriatic arthritis, study results suggest that Taltz can provide significant improvement in joint symptoms for patients who have never been treated with a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug as well as patients who have inadequate response to one or two TNF inhibitors or are intolerant of TNF inhibitors.
“Fairview Specialty Pharmacy’s extensive experience partnering with clinicians in the treatment of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis at the University of Minnesota Medical Center puts us in a unique position to support patients who are prescribed Taltz,” Amundson said. “We tap into this insight to provide individualized care, engage patients in their therapy and help them receive the most value from their specialty medications.”
Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease, primarily afflicts the skin by causing patches of redness and flaking. It comes in several forms, with plaque psoriasis being the most common.
Active psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, progressive and painful form of inflammatory arthritis that impacts approximately 1.6 million Americans.
Fairview Specialty Pharmacy, owned by Fairview Health Services, is committed to providing exceptional care by empowering patients to engage in their therapy and obtain the most value from specialty medications. Individualized care and expert clinical support are provided by experienced staff who are passionate about delivering exemplary service. Because every customer interaction is important, all calls are answered live. Industry-leading customer satisfaction scores attest to Fairview’s ability to get specialty drugs to people who need them, when they need them.
About Fairview Health Services
Fairview Health Services is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit health system driven to heal, discover and educate for longer, healthier lives. Founded in 1906, Fairview provides exceptional care to patients and communities as one of the most comprehensive and geographically accessible systems in Minnesota. Through a close relationship with the University of Minnesota, Fairview offers access to breakthrough medical research and specialty expertise as part of a continuum of care that reaches all ages and health needs.
Steven Green, Fairview Specialty Pharmacy, +1 612-672-7058, [email protected]
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