- WHAT THE C@H?! provides a platform
for the congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
community to find educational information, share experiences and
learn about current research.
SAN
DIEGO, April 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced
the launch of WHAT THE C@H?!, an educational initiative that
aims to close the gap in the need for helpful information about
congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and acknowledges the
frustrations and challenges experienced by the community in
managing the condition.
"We are proud to introduce this effort to recognize the
significant physical and emotional burden individuals and their
families experience living with CAH," said Eiry W. Roberts, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences. "We hope this
educational initiative, which was informed by insights from the
community, is helpful to those navigating and managing this
difficult condition."
WHAT THE C@H?! was created for adults and adolescents living
with CAH, parents of children with CAH and providers who treat the
condition. Through a form on the website, people can submit their
WHAT THE C@H?! moment, a challenging experience of living with or
managing the condition. The website features educational
information and offers patients and caregivers a space to share
their CAH stories with others.
CAH is a rare, genetic condition that results in an enzyme
deficiency that alters the production of adrenal hormones which are
essential for life.1 CAH is typically identified at or
soon after birth and is associated with adrenal insufficiency that
can lead to life-threatening adrenal crises and androgen
excess.1 People with CAH seek to achieve balance between
cortisol deficiency and androgen excess through treatment with
glucocorticoids, which have remained the standard for the past 70
years.1 However, side effects of treatment can be
difficult to detect or distinguish from the symptoms of CAH itself,
making it challenging to determine an appropriate treatment plan
throughout various stages of life.
"For over 70 years, treating the symptoms of CAH has presented
challenges not only for people living with the condition and their
families, but for healthcare providers who are often balancing
trade-offs of treatment with high-dose steroids to improve care for
their patients," said Dimitri E.
Grigoriadis, Ph.D., Distinguished Scholar, Neurocrine
Biosciences. "Neurocrine has a deep history in advancing research
in CAH and is proud to launch this educational initiative as part
of our ongoing commitment to supporting the community."
"WHAT THE C@H?! provides an empowering and supportive website
for individuals living with CAH and parents of children with the
condition where they can express themselves, share their stories
and learn about other people's experiences," said Dina Matos, Executive Director at CARES
Foundation. "It's a unique educational platform that we feel will
encourage the community to be their own best advocates by having
active and ongoing conversations with their healthcare providers
about their symptoms and treatment plan."
The WHAT THE C@H?! healthcare provider-facing website includes
interactive educational resources on current CAH monitoring and
management practices, in addition to an overview of the potential
of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF1) receptors in
CAH.
Dozens of interviews were conducted with people living with CAH,
their family members and healthcare providers, in addition to
extensive market research, including 63 patients and 124 healthcare
providers, to inform the educational initiative.
For more information and to share your WHAT THE C@H?! moment,
visit WhatTheCAH.com and follow the initiative on Facebook: What
The CAH?!.
About Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a rare genetic condition
that results in an enzyme deficiency that alters the production of
adrenal hormones which are essential for life. Approximately 95% of
CAH cases are caused by a mutation that leads to deficiency of the
enzyme 21-hydroxylase (21-OHD). Severe deficiency of this enzyme
can lead to an inability of the adrenal glands to produce cortisol
and, in approximately 75% of cases, aldosterone. If left untreated,
CAH can result in salt wasting, dehydration and even death.
Glucocorticoids (GCs), the current standard of care, are used
not only to correct the endogenous cortisol deficiency but doses
used are higher than cortisol replacement needed (supraphysiologic)
to lower the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and
androgens. However, glucocorticoid treatment at supraphysiologic
doses has been associated with serious and significant
complications of steroid excess, including metabolic issues, such
as weight gain and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and
osteoporosis. Additionally, long-term treatment with
supraphysiologic GC doses may have psychological and cognitive
impact, such as changes in mood and memory. Androgen excess has
been associated with abnormal bone growth and development in
pediatric patients, female health problems, such as acne, excess
hair growth and menstrual irregularities, testicular rest tumors in
males and fertility issues in both sexes. To learn more about CAH,
click here.
About Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF)
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is a neuropeptide that
regulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by
the pituitary gland. The neuropeptide was discovered, isolated and
identified by the late Wylie W.
Vale, PhD., a founder of Neurocrine Biosciences who led the
Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology and was the
Helen McLoraine Chair in Molecular Neurobiology at the Salk
Institute. Dr. Vale mapped the key role CRF plays in the regulation
of the stress response. In the 95% of CAH cases caused by a
mutation in the 21-hydroxylase enzyme, severe enzyme deficiency
results in little or no production of the stress hormone cortisol,
which can lead to adrenal crisis. The lack of cortisol production
also causes a break in the feedback loop that would normally
regulate the body's secretion of CRF, and as a result ACTH, which
maintains adrenal androgen production within normal ranges.
About CARES Foundation
CARES Foundation is the only organization in the United States solely dedicated to the
congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) community. Founded in 2000,
CARES represents approximately 8,000 affected individuals,
families and healthcare professionals in the U.S. and more
than 70 countries. To learn more, visit
www.caresfoundation.org.
About Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading neuroscience-focused,
biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve
suffering for people with great needs, but few options. We are
dedicated to discovering and developing life-changing treatments
for patients with under-addressed neurological, neuroendocrine and
neuropsychiatric disorders. The company's diverse portfolio
includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea
associated with Huntington's disease, endometriosis* and uterine
fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple
compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our
core therapeutic areas. For three decades, we have applied our
unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between
brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly
pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and
disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information,
visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X
(formerly Twitter) and Facebook. (*in collaboration with
AbbVie)
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, NEUROCRINE and YOU DESERVE BRAVE SCIENCE
are registered trademarks of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. The
Neurocrine logo is a trademark of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statement
In addition to historical facts, this press release contains
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. These statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding the Company's plans to advance a platform that
may help address the needs of people affected by CAH, and the
value that such a platform may bring to the community. Among the
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated in the forward-looking statements are: whether the
Company can successfully advance a platform that may help address
the needs of people affected by CAH; risks and uncertainties
associated with the development of the Company's products; risks
that the Company's products may be precluded from development by
the proprietary rights of third parties, or have unintended side
effects or adverse reactions; risks and uncertainties relating to
competitive products and technological changes that may limit
demand for the Company's products; risks associated with our
dependence on third parties for development and manufacturing
activities related to the Company's products, and our ability to
manage these third parties; risks that the FDA or other regulatory
authorities may make adverse decisions regarding our products;
risks associated with potential generic entrants for our products;
and other risks described in the Company's periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without
limitation the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023. Neurocrine
Biosciences disclaims any obligation to update the statements
contained in this press release after the date hereof.
REFERENCE
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. National Organization for
Rare Disorders. Updated June 8, 2023.
Accessed February. 8, 2024
https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/congenital-adrenal-hyperplasia/
© 2024 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CP-CAH-US-0077 04/2024
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SOURCE Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.