Let's Talk 2 Encourages Patients and Their
Health Care Providers to Have 2-Way Conversations About Irritable
Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D)
Let's Talk 2 Kicks Off in April for IBS
Awareness Month
BRIDGEWATER, N.J., April 3, 2018 /CNW/ -- Salix
Pharmaceuticals, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company
committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal
disorders and a wholly owned subsidiary of Valeant
Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE/TSX: VRX), today announced the
launch of a national education campaign called Let's Talk 2.
Let's Talk 2, which kicks-off in April for IBS Awareness
Month and is endorsed by the International Foundation for
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), founders of IBS
Awareness Month, is dedicated to encouraging and empowering
patients '2' talk openly with their health care providers about
their irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and its
associated symptoms.
"Up to 16 million Americans suffer with IBS-D, and they often
live with debilitating symptoms, including abdominal pain and
diarrhea, for years before being correctly diagnosed," said
Mark McKenna, senior vice president
and general manager, Salix Pharmaceuticals.1,2 "Let's
Talk 2 is designed to help patients better communicate with
their health care providers, as we believe that better two-way
conversations can help lead to better patient outcomes."
To kick off the campaign, Salix has created Letstalk-2.com, a
new web site where patients can go for more information on IBS-D,
including common triggers, possible causes, different treatments
and tips on how to prepare for discussions with health care
providers.
"We are so pleased to endorse the Let's Talk 2 campaign,
created and led by such a leader in gastroenterology as Salix, on
this important initiative to educate Americans about IBS," said
Ceciel Rooker, executive director,
IFFGD. "The campaign and resources will support our shared goal of
helping people go from symptom onset to diagnosis much faster by
educating around the potential causes and symptoms of IBS-D, and
encouraging more direct conversations with physicians."
According to research published in 2017 in the Journal of
Neurogastroenterology and Motility, many IBS patients reported
feeling stigmatized; health care providers should be aware of the
presence of stigma in IBS patients.3
"Patients may feel embarrassed to discuss their bowel habits,
especially when there is a diarrheal component, however it's
important that doctors know all the details of their patients'
symptoms in order to provide them with the best treatment option,"
said Mark Pimentel, M.D., program
director, Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST)
Program, Cedars-Sinai. "Patients should pay close attention to any
changes in their bowel habits, such as an urgent need to use the
bathroom and abdominal pain, as these can be signs of IBS-D."
Let's Talk 2 is one of several initiatives from Salix
designed to drive awareness of and education about IBS-D. Salix
will also host several events across the nation to educate both
patients and health care providers about the importance of raising
the conversation about IBS-D.
For additional information about Let's Talk 2 or to learn
more about IBS-D, please visit Letstalk-2.com or join the
conversation online using the hashtag #letstalk2.
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
almost 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, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valeant
Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., is headquartered in
Bridgewater, New Jersey.
About Valeant
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International,
Inc. (NYSE/TSX: VRX) 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.valeant.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," "will,"
"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, risks and uncertainties discussed in Valeant's most
recent annual or quarterly report and detailed from time to time in
Valeant's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are
incorporated herein by reference. 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.
Valeant 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.
IBS.0043.USA.18
1 Grundmann O, Yoon SL. Irritable bowel syndrome:
epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment: an update for health-care
practitioners. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010
Apr;25(4):691-9.
2 Quick Facts. United States Census Bureau web
site. https://www.census.gov/quickfa.... Accessed April
4, 2017.
3 Taft, T.H, Bedell, A,
Naftaly, J, Keefer, L. Stigmatization toward irritable bowel
syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease in an online cohort,
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. 2017 Feb
Investor
Contact:
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Media
Contacts:
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Arthur
Shannon
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Lainie
Keller
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arthur.shannon@valeant.com
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lainie.keller@valeant.com
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514-856-3855
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908-927-1190
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|
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Karen Paff
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Karen.Paff@salix.com
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908-927-1190
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SOURCE Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.