Assertio Provides Educational Grant for New Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation Treatments Kits
Assertio Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASRT) has announced a $100,000 educational grant to the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation to support the launch of their 'About LGS Treatments Kits' aimed at assisting families affected by LGS. This initiative aims to provide crucial information regarding seizure treatments and management options for LGS patients aged two years and older, who are treated with SYMPAZAN (clobazam) oral film. SYMPAZAN is the only FDA-approved oral film formulation for adjunctive treatment of seizures linked to LGS. Assertio's initiative reflects its commitment to enhancing awareness and education around LGS, as emphasized by the company's CEO, Dan Peisert.
- Assertio's $100,000 grant supports families impacted by Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, enhancing its reputation in the community.
- The launch of 'About LGS Treatments Kits' provides educational resources, potentially increasing SYMPAZAN's market visibility.
- None.
SYMPAZAN (clobazam) oral CIV film from Assertio is used for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS in patients two years of age and older
Oral film delivery from SYMPAZAN® delivers clobazam to LGS patients with no crushing, no mixing, no prep work
LAKE FOREST, Ill., April 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Assertio Holdings, Inc. (“Assertio” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ASRT), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it is providing educational grant funding for the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation’s new About LGS Treatments Kits for families coping with LGS. Assertio markets SYMPAZAN® (clobazam) oral film CIV, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS in patients aged two years of age or older.
Assertio announced in December that it provided a
“Assertio is proud to support the LGS community,” said Dan Peisert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio. “Our focus is on working with the LGS Foundation to help raise awareness of LGS and to support development of educational materials that can benefit their community.”
Tracy Dixon-Salazar, Ph.D, Executive Director of the LGS Foundation, said the kits will include information about medications to treat seizures associated with LGS, diet therapy, neuromodulatory treatments, epilepsy surgery, and much more.
“I wish I had a kit like this when my daughter was first diagnosed with LGS over two decades ago,” said Dr. Dixon-Salazar. “Our community has told us that they need more information to help them understand their options for treatment of seizures in LGS. This kit will help do just that.”
Dr. Dixon-Salazar said the Treatment Kits will be provided starting today to any family requesting one. Families impacted by Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome can request an About LGS Treatments Kit on the LGS Foundation’s website.
About LGS Foundation
The Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals impacted by LGS through advancing research, awareness, education, and family support. For more information, please visit www.lgsfoundation.org.
About Sympazan
SYMPAZAN is the first and only FDA-approved oral film formulation of clobazam, a benzodiazepine approved for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients 2 years of age or older. SYMPAZAN oral film is berry flavored and offered in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg dosages to meet a range of LGS patient and caregiver needs.
About Assertio
Assertio is a specialty pharmaceutical company offering differentiated products to patients utilizing a non-personal promotional model. We have built and continue to build our commercial portfolio by identifying new opportunities within our existing products as well as acquisitions or licensing of additional approved products. To learn more about Assertio, visit www.assertiotx.com.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
SYMPAZAN® (clobazam) oral film, CIV is indicated for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in patients 2 years of age or older.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for Sympazan
| WARNING: RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS; ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION; and DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS |
| • Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required. Follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation. • The use of benzodiazepines, including SYMPAZAN, exposes users to risks of abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose or death. Before prescribing SYMPAZAN and throughout treatment, assess each patient’s risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction. • Abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction of SYMPAZAN after continued use may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening. To reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions, use a gradual taper to discontinue SYMPAZAN. |
CONTRAINDICATIONS
SYMPAZAN is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to the drug or its ingredients.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Risks from Concomitant Use with Opioids
Observational studies have demonstrated that concomitant use of opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines increases the risk of drug-related mortality compared to use of opioids alone. If a decision is made to prescribe SYMPAZAN concomitantly with opioids, prescribe the lowest effective dosages and minimum durations of concomitant use. Advise both patients and caregivers about the risks of respiratory depression and sedation when SYMPAZAN is used with opioids.
Abuse, Misuse, and Addiction
Abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines often (but not always) involves the use of doses greater than the maximum recommended dosage and commonly involves concomitant use of other medications, alcohol, and/or illicit substances, which is associated with an increased frequency of serious adverse outcomes, including respiratory depression, overdose, or death.
Use of SYMPAZAN, particularly in patients at elevated risk, necessitates counseling about the risks and proper use of SYMPAZAN along with monitoring for signs and symptoms of abuse, misuse, and addiction. Prescribe the lowest effective dosage; avoid or minimize concomitant use of Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants and other substances associated with abuse, misuse, and addiction (e.g., opioid analgesics, stimulants); and advise patients on the proper disposal of unused drug. If a substance use disorder is suspected, evaluate the patient and institute (or refer them for) early treatment, as appropriate.
Dependence and Withdrawal Reactions
Patients at an increased risk of withdrawal reactions after benzodiazepine discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction include those who take higher dosages and those who have had longer durations of use.
The continued use of benzodiazepines, including SYMPAZAN, may lead to clinically significant physical dependence. Abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction of ONFI after continued use, or administration of flumazenil (a benzodiazepine antagonist) may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, which can be life-threatening (e.g., seizures). In some cases, benzodiazepine users have developed protracted withdrawal syndrome with withdrawal symptoms lasting weeks to more than 12 months.
Potentiation of Sedation from Concomitant Use with Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants SYMPAZAN has a CNS depressant effect. Caution patients and/or caregivers against simultaneous use with other CNS depressants or alcohol as the effects of other CNS depressants or alcohol may be potentiated.
Somnolence or Sedation SYMPAZAN causes dose-related somnolence and sedation, which generally begins within the first month of treatment and may diminish with continued treatment. Monitor patients for somnolence and sedation, particularly with concomitant use of other CNS depressants. Caution patients against engaging in hazardous activities requiring mental alertness, i.e., operating dangerous machinery or motor vehicles, until the effect of SYMPAZAN is known.
Serious Dermatological Reactions Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported with clobazam in both children and adults. Discontinue SYMPAZAN at the fi rst sign of rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related.
Suicidal Behavior and Ideation Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including SYMPAZAN, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Adverse reactions (≥
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Opioids: The concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids increases the risk of respiratory depression. Limit dosage and duration of concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids and follow patients closely for respiratory depression and sedation.
CNS Depressants and Alcohol: Concomitant use of SYMPAZAN with other CNS depressants, including alcohol, may increase the risk of sedation and somnolence. Caution patients and/or caregivers against simultaneous use with other CNS depressants or alcohol, as effects of other CNS depressants or alcohol may be potentiated.
Hormonal Contraceptives: Hormonal contraceptives that are metabolized by CYP3A4: Effectiveness may be diminished when given with SYMPAZAN. Additional non-hormonal forms of contraception are recommended when using SYMPAZAN.
Drug Metabolized by CYP2D6: SYMPAZAN inhibits CYP2D6, therefore dose adjustment may be necessary of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 when co-administered with SYMPAZAN.
Strong and Moderate Inhibitors of CYP2C19. Dosage adjustment of SYMPAZAN may be necessary when co-administered with strong CYP2C19 inhibitors (e.g., fluconazole, fluvoxamine, ticlopidine) or moderate CYP2C19 inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole).
Cannabidiol: Coadministration of cannabidiol and SYMPAZAN may increase the risk of SYMPAZAN-related adverse reactions. Consider dose reduction of cannabidiol or SYMPAZAN should this occur.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy: SYMPAZAN may cause fetal harm and should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Infants born to mothers who have taken benzodiazepines during the later stages of pregnancy can develop dependence, withdrawal syndrome and symptoms suggestive of floppy infant syndrome. Encourage patients to call the toll-free number 1-888-233-2334 to enroll in the Pregnancy Registry or visit http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/
Lactation: SYMPAZAN is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from SYMPAZAN, discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug.
Please see Full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING and Patient Information at https://www.sympazan.com/pdfs/pi.pdf
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Assertio Therapeutics at 1-800-518-1084 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this communication that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Assertio's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. These forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, future events or the future performance or operations of Assertio, including our ability to realize the benefits from our operating model, successfully acquire and integrate new assets including Sympazan and explore new business development initiatives. All statements other than historical facts may be forward-looking statements and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "design," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "imply," "intend," "may", "objective," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "position," "potential," "predict," "project," "prospective," "pursue," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "would," "will," "aim" or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of Assertio, including the risks described in Assertio's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and in other filings Assertio makes with the SEC from time to time. Investors and potential investors are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this communication, which speak only as of this date. While Assertio may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking-statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required by applicable law. Nothing contained herein constitutes or will be deemed to constitute a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance or expected results of Assertio.
Investor Contact
Matt Kreps
Managing Director
Darrow Associates
Austin, TX
M: 214-597-8200
mkreps@darrowir.com
FAQ
What educational support has Assertio provided for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome?
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What are the benefits of the new 'About LGS Treatments Kits'?
