DUBLIN and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April
13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN)
and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:IRWD), in
partnership with the American Gastroenterological Association
(AGA), initiated a campaign about the importance of bowel health in
recognition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, at
the Vital Signs of Bowel Health Summit, which took place
yesterday in New York City. Nearly
64 million Americans are estimated to be affected by either IBS,
which includes Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D) and
Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C), or Chronic
Idiopathic Constipation (CIC).1-5
The summit, hosted by celebrity entrepreneur and Daytime Emmy®
nominated talk show host, Wendy
Williams, focused on the need for greater awareness of the
signs and symptoms of IBS-D, IBS-C and CIC, and the necessity for a
deeper dialogue between patients and their healthcare professionals
about bowel health. Approximately half of IBS-C and IBS-D patients
responding to the 2015 IBS in America survey had taken over the
counter medicine for more than a year before discussing their
symptoms with a doctor, and 10% wait up to 5 years to a
decade.6 Host Wendy
Williams stressed how important it is that patients not feel
ashamed to have bowel health conversations with their healthcare
providers.
"For those who think they may be suffering from IBS-D or IBS-C,
the bowel movement conversation needs to start today; no
conversation involving our health should feel taboo," said
Wendy Williams. "I want to encourage
anyone who experiences abdominal pain with constipation or
diarrhea to take the lead and initiate a conversation with
their healthcare professional, share what they're experiencing and
feel comfortable discussing this important issue."
The event also featured leading healthcare experts, including
Andrea Shin, MD, Assistant Professor
of Medicine at the Indiana University
Health North Hospital and an AGA spokesperson, who discussed IBS-D,
IBS-C and CIC symptoms and emphasized the availability of
prescription medications that can help treat these conditions;
well-known nutritionist Lauren
Slayton, MS, RD, who spoke to the benefits of a healthy diet
and lifestyle as part of a comprehensive approach to managing bowel
health in partnership with a healthcare professional; and
nutritional psychologist Amanda
Baten, PhD, who stressed the emotional impact IBS-D, IBS-C
and CIC often have on sufferers.
"Bowel health, among other factors, may be an indicator of
overall health, and changes in bowel health can be an indicator of
whether patients may be suffering from gastrointestinal conditions,
such as IBS-D, IBS-C or CIC," said Timothy
C. Wang, MD, AGAF, Columbia University, New
York, NY, President of the AGA.
"IBS-D and IBS-C sufferers who responded to the IBS in America
survey often rely on over-the-counter products for their
symptoms—trying three or more before realizing it's time to seek
professional help. Open conversations about bowel health are
critical for enabling me to help my IBS and CIC patients find an
appropriate treatment option."
Allergan, Ironwood and AGA are committed to supporting programs
like Vital Signs of Bowel Health that are designed to
empower those impacted by IBS-D and IBS-C to take action toward
managing their symptoms and to talk to their healthcare
professionals about treatment.
Visit TheToiletTalk.com and AboutYourGut.com for more
information and helpful resources.
About the AGA Institute
The American
Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI
community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to more than 16,000
members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of
the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA
Institute administers the practice, research and educational
programs of the organization. Find an AGA member gastroenterologist
at www.gastro.org/gilocator. Learn more about IBS at
www.gastro.org/IBS.
About Allergan plc
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN),
headquartered in Dublin, Ireland,
is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new
industry model – Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on
developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded
pharmaceuticals, devices and biologic products for patients around
the world.
Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class
products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical
aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health,
urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.
Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's
R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and
developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient
care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the
broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with
70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development.
Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global
colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we
build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our
customers and patients around the world by always doing what is
right.
With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries,
Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare
providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful
treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier
lives every day.
For more information, visit Allergan's website at
www.Allergan.com
About Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Ironwood
Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD) is a commercial biotechnology
company focused on creating medicines that make a difference for
patients, building value for our fellow shareholders, and
empowering our passionate team. We are commercializing two
innovative primary care products: linaclotide, the U.S. branded
prescription market leader for adults with irritable bowel syndrome
with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC),
and lesinurad, which is approved to be taken with a xanthine
oxidase inhibitor (XOI) for the treatment of hyperuricemia
associated with uncontrolled gout. We are also advancing a pipeline
of internally and externally generated innovative product
candidates in areas of significant unmet need, including
uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux disease and vascular and
fibrotic diseases. Ironwood was founded in 1998 and is
headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.
For more information, please visit www.ironwoodpharma.com or
www.twitter.com/ironwoodpharma; information that may be important
to investors will be routinely posted in both these locations.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release
contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including
statements about prevalence and unmet need. Each forward‐looking
statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include those
related to preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and
formulation development; the risk that future clinical studies need
to be discontinued for any reason, including safety, tolerability,
enrollment, manufacturing or economic reasons; the risk that
findings from our completed nonclinical and clinical studies may
not be replicated in later studies; efficacy, safety and
tolerability; decisions by regulatory authorities; those risks
related to competition and future business decisions made by us and
our competitors or potential competitors; developments in the
intellectual property landscape; and the risks listed under the
heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Ironwood's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2016, Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2016 and in the
subsequent SEC filings of each company. These
forward-looking statements (except as otherwise noted) speak only
as of the date of this press release, and Ironwood
and Allergan undertake no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements.
References
1. Data on file. Forest Laboratories, LLC.
2. Brandt LJ, Pranther CM, quickly EM, et al. Systematic review on
the management of chronic constipation in North America. Am J Gastroenterol.
2005: 100 (suppl 1): S5-S21.
3. Howden LM. Meyer JA. Age and Sex Composition: 2010. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau;
May 2011.
4. Quick Facts. United States Census Bureau website:
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/00. Accessed
March 24, 2017.
5. Grundmann O, Yoon SL. Irritable bowel syndrome: epidemiology,
diagnosis and treatment: an update for health-care practitioners.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;25(4):691-699.
6. GfK Public Affairs and Corporate Communications for American
Gastroenterological Association IBS in America Survey, 2015. "IBS
in America."
Contacts:
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Mark
Marmur
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Trista
Morrison
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Media
Relations
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Corporate
Communications
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862.261.7558
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617.374.5095
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mark.marmur@allergan.com
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tmorrison@ironwoodpharma.com
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Tara
Schuh
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Meredith
Kaya
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Public
Relations
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Investor
Relations
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201.427.8888
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617.374.5082
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tara.schuh@allergan.com
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mkaya@ironwoodpharma.com
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SOURCE Allergan plc and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc.