Salix Supports Liver Awareness Month With New Educational Initiatives

Rhea-AI Summary

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (BHC) announced the launch of LiverHEalthNow, an online resource aimed at improving the detection and management of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE) in chronic liver disease patients. This initiative coincides with Liver Awareness Month and aims to educate healthcare providers and patients. Approximately 30 million Americans are affected by liver disease, with OHE being a severe complication. Salix Pharmaceuticals, part of Bausch Health, emphasizes the importance of early detection to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions.

Positive

• Launch of 'LiverHEalthNow' resource, enhancing patient and physician communication.
• Focus on early detection of OHE, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital readmissions.
• Strong commitment to raising awareness through social media and partnerships.

Negative

• None.

Educational Online Resource Offers Tools for Early Detection of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy in Chronic Liver Disease Patients

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) and its gastroenterology business, Salix Pharmaceuticals ("Salix"), one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, today announced the launch of a series of educational initiatives and resources aimed to reach health care providers and their patients with chronic liver disease. As part of Salix's support for Liver Awareness Month, the company has launched a new, digital destination, "LiverHEalthNow," which offers tools to support the management of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE) in chronic liver disease patients.

According to the American Liver Foundation,¹ approximately 30 million people in the U.S. have some form of liver disease.²  Cirrhosis is a long-term chronic liver disease.³  OHE is a primary complication of cirrhosis.⁴

"At Salix, we are committed to raising awareness of OHE, its risk factors and the need for early detection given that OHE patients are at a high risk for hospital readmission and short survival rates,"^5,6 said Robert Spurr, president, Salix Pharmaceuticals. "In addition to our longstanding partnerships with advocacy and professional organizations, we're proud to launch our new online LiverHEalthNow resource, which is designed to strengthen physician-patient communication, and hopefully, help reduce the burden of a delayed diagnosis in OHE patients."

Salix's Liver Awareness Month initiatives include:

• LiverHEalthNow
  A new, online resource designed to support the management of patients suffering from chronic liver disease and OHE. LiverHEalthNow offers tools to help screen patients, define an OHE episode and coordinate care. For more information, visit LiverHEALTHnow.com.
• Raising Awareness Through Social Media
  Salix will join the national conversation about OHE through social media, leveraging its Twitter and LinkedIn platforms to galvanize awareness of OHE's prevalence and symptoms. To take part, connect with Salix on Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Advocacy Support
  As a corporate council member of the American Liver Foundation (ALF), Salix is a sponsor of The American Debates, The Progression of Liver Disease campaign and Virtual Liver Life Walks.

About Salix
Salix Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. For more than 30 years, Salix has licensed, developed, and marketed innovative products to improve patients' lives and arm health care providers with life-changing solutions for many chronic and debilitating conditions. Salix currently markets its product line to U.S. health care providers through an expanded sales force that focuses on gastroenterology, hepatology, pain specialists and primary care. Salix is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information about Salix, visit www.Salix.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Bausch Health
Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Bausch Health's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and detailed from time to time in Bausch Health's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and the fear of that pandemic and its potential effects, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on Bausch Health, including but not limited to its project development timelines, and costs (which may increase). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

HED.0090.USA.20

©2020 Salix Pharmaceuticals or its affiliates.

¹ American Liver Foundation. Advocacy. [online] Available at: https://liverfoundation.org/about-us/advocacy/?vvsrc=%2FBlogPosts%2F556%3Fvvsn%3DBAAAAAurANsIAA0WM9R7BAA. Accessed Sept. 29, 2020.
² American Liver Foundation. Advocacy. [online] Available at: https://liverfoundation.org/about-us/advocacy/?vvsrc=%2FBlogPosts%2F556%3Fvvsn%3DBAAAAAurANsIAA0WM9R7BAA. Accessed Sept. 29, 2020.
³ 2020. Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis. [online] Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/chronic-liver-disease-cirrhosis#:~:text=points%20about%20cirrhosis-,Cirrhosis%20is%20when%20scar%20tissue%20replaces%20healthy%20liver%20tissue.,other%20viruses%2C%20and%20alcohol%20abuse.  Accessed Sept. 29, 2020.
⁴ Vilstrup, H., Amodio, P., Bajaj, J., Cordoba, J., Ferenci, P., Mullen, K.D., Weissenborn, K. and Wong, P. (2014), Hepatic encephalopathy in chronic liver disease: 2014 Practice Guideline by the American Association for the Study Of Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver. Hepatology, 60: 715-735. doi:10.1002/hep.27210.
⁵ Date on file
⁶ Bustamante J, Rimola A, Ventura P-J, et al. Prognostic significance of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 1999;30(5):890-895.

Investor Contact:                                            
Arthur Shannon                                               
arthur.shannon@bauschhealth.com      
(514) 856-3855                                                 
(877) 281-6642 (toll free)                                    

Media Contacts:
Lainie Keller       
lainie.keller@bauschhealth.com 
(908) 927-1198

Karen Paff
karen.paff@salix.com
(908) 927-1190            

 

 

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SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Bausch Health's new initiative related to liver disease?

Bausch Health's new initiative, 'LiverHEalthNow', aims to improve the early detection and management of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy in chronic liver disease patients.

How does 'LiverHEalthNow' support chronic liver disease patients?

'LiverHEalthNow' provides tools for screening, defining OHE episodes, and coordinating care for chronic liver disease patients.

What is Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy and why is early detection important?

Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE) is a serious complication of chronic liver disease, and early detection is crucial for reducing hospital readmissions and improving survival rates.

What is the relationship between Bausch Health and Salix Pharmaceuticals?

Salix Pharmaceuticals is the gastroenterology division of Bausch Health, focusing on the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

What percentage of Americans are affected by liver disease according to the press release?

Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. are affected by some form of liver disease, as noted in the press release.