New Survey Finds People Living With HIV With Diarrhea Often Suffer in Silence
December 12 2017 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
A change in the way doctors and patients
talk about symptoms could better address this neglected comorbidity
in HIV
Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Napo), a human health company
developing and commercializing novel gastrointestinal prescription
products from plants used traditionally in rainforest areas, and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Jaguar Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAGX)
(Jaguar), today released the results of a survey of 350 people
living with HIV and AIDS on “Talking to Your Doctor About
Symptoms”. The nationwide survey was sponsored by Napo and
developed with input from HIV advocates Tez Anderson, Josh Robbins
and David Duran.
The survey shows diarrhea remains prevalent in those living with
HIV/AIDS, as 27 percent of respondents living with HIV/AIDS
reported that they currently have diarrhea, while 56 percent
reported that they have had diarrhea in the past. In addition, 79
percent of those with diarrhea reported having diarrhea for more
than a year, and 61 percent reported having diarrhea for more than
five years. Interestingly, while 72 percent said their doctor asked
them about symptoms in general, only 31 percent said their doctor
asked about diarrhea without them bringing it up first.
Highlights of the survey include:
- Long-term HIV survivors (individuals
who have lived with HIV for 10+ years) have a higher prevalence of
diarrhea, with 32 percent reporting they currently have diarrhea.
In addition, 61 percent of long-term survivors reported suffering
with diarrhea for at least five years.
- Of people living with HIV (PLWH) who
have had diarrhea, less than half said their doctor asked them
specifically about diarrhea.
- 30 percent of those currently
experiencing diarrhea said they never discussed diarrhea with their
doctor and/or reported feeling that the doctor dismissed or “blew
off” their issue with diarrhea. Of all survey respondents, 19
percent who have ever experienced
diarrhea said they never discussed
diarrhea with their doctor.
- Only one percent of survey respondents
who currently have diarrhea reported being told by their doctor
about Mytesi® (crofelemer), the only drug that has been
specifically studied in and FDA-approved for symptoms of diarrhea
in people living with HIV.
Tez Anderson, Founder of Let’s Kick ASS (AIDS Survivor
Syndrome), commented on the survey results: "That so many PLWH
reported being asked about general symptoms, but not about
diarrhea, is troubling. After living with diarrhea for decades, I
think long-term survivors accept it as a fact-of-life, and they
don't bring it up with providers. It's important that PLWH inform
their doctors it is an issue and to ask for non-opioid based
treatment.”
“These results demonstrate that chronic diarrhea continues to be
a substantial complaint of HIV/AIDS patients, and particularly in
the growing group of long-term survivors,” stated Lisa Conte,
Jaguar’s president and CEO. “Diarrhea can have a severe negative
impact on PLWH, and we are striving to ensure that people living
with HIV and their healthcare providers are aware of, and have
access to, Mytesi, and that they are effectively communicating
about HIV/AIDS-related diarrhea.”
To view the full report of the survey results click here:
http://www.enoughdiarrhea.com/surveyreport/SymptomSurveyReportNov2017.pdf
Launched by Napo in October 2016, Mytesi is the only
antidiarrheal studied in and U.S. FDA-approved for the symptomatic
relief of noninfectious diarrhea in adults living with HIV/AIDS on
antiretroviral therapy (ART). Mytesi is a prescription treatment
for diarrhea that works differently, by acting locally in the GI
tract to normalize the flow of water. Mytesi does not have
drug-drug interactions with ART and has side effects that are
similar to placebo.
To learn more about what you can do about HIV/AIDS-related
diarrhea, visit www.mytesi.com.
Methodology:
Napo sponsored the nationwide survey of 350 people living with
HIV/AIDS and developed it with input from HIV advocates Tez
Anderson, Josh Robbins and David Duran. Survey participants were
recruited through social media channels, HIV advocacy networks and
Facebook advertising during the months of October and November
2017.
About Mytesi®
Mytesi® (crofelemer) is an antidiarrheal indicated for the
symptomatic relief of noninfectious diarrhea in adult patients with
HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Mytesi® is not indicated
for the treatment of infectious diarrhea. Rule out infectious
etiologies of diarrhea before starting Mytesi. If infectious
etiologies are not considered, there is a risk that patients with
infectious etiologies will not receive the appropriate therapy and
their disease may worsen. In clinical studies, the most common
adverse reactions occurring at a rate greater than placebo were
upper respiratory tract infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough
(3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
More information and complete Prescribing Information are
available at Mytesi.com. Crofelemer, the active ingredient in
Mytesi®, is a botanical (plant-based) drug extracted and purified
from the red bark sap of the medicinal Croton lechleri tree in the
Amazon rainforest. Napo has established a sustainable harvesting
program for crofelemer to ensure a high degree of quality and
ecological integrity.
About Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
San Francisco-based Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Napo), focuses
on developing and commercializing proprietary human
gastrointestinal pharmaceuticals for the global marketplace from
plants used traditionally in rainforest areas. Napo is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Jaguar Health, Inc., a commercial stage
natural-products pharmaceuticals company focused on developing
novel, sustainably derived gastrointestinal products for both human
prescription use and animals on a global basis.
For more information about Napo, please visit napopharma.com.
For more information about Jaguar, visit jaguar.health.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171212005708/en/
KCSA Strategic CommunicationsKate Tumino,
212-896-1252ktumino@kcsa.comorLisa Lipson,
508-843-6428llipson@kcsa.com
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