In recognition of National Naloxone Awareness Day, Emergent
BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) is highlighting its ongoing efforts
to combat the opioid epidemic in the U.S., including topline
results from its new general population awareness survey on
consumers’ understanding of opioid-related accidental overdose and
fentanyl. The results show that there is a high level of awareness
that fentanyl is an opioid, and that naloxone can reverse opioid
overdoses, including those caused by fentanyl.1 It also found that
there are still gaps in certain age groups and populations in
understanding the role of naloxone in reversing opioid overdoses
related to fentanyl.1
While recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) found a first annual decrease in opioid-related
deaths since 2018 in the U.S., fentanyl poisonings are still on the
rise and over 100,000 lives were still lost to preventable opioid
overdose death in 2023.2
“Combating the opioid crisis takes a holistic approach across
sectors, and Emergent is committed to raise awareness, increase
access and availability of over-the-counter NARCAN® Nasal Spray
making it possible for anyone to save a life,” said Paul Williams,
senior vice president, products head at Emergent. “National
Naloxone Awareness Day commemorates Victoria Siegel’s tragic death
from accidental overdose on June 6, 2015, as well as all lives lost
from overdose, while heightening awareness and expanding access to
life-saving naloxone, the standard of care for opioid overdose
reversal.”
NARCAN® Nasal Spray 4 mg is the first-ever U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved, over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone
product for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. In addition
to expanding the availability through OTC measures, Emergent works
to increase awareness through a multi-pronged, extensive approach
that includes educational tools, resources, and public education
efforts like the Ready to Rescue campaign.
As a part of the National Naloxone Awareness Day efforts,
Emergent met with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control
Policy (ONDCP) this week to strategize on new and improved ways
Emergent can collaborate across industries to improve the lives of
Americans. Congruent to these efforts, Emergent supports the White
House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose, a nationwide
call-to-action to increase training on and access to life-saving
opioid overdose reversal medications.
Since the prescription launch of NARCAN® Nasal Spray in 2016,
approximately 64 million doses have been distributed across the
U.S. and Canada. In 2023, Emergent delivered approximately 11
million cartons (approximately 22 million doses), and remains
committed to ensuring broad access, awareness and strong supply to
meet expected growing demand in 2024 to support distribution
efforts across the country.
Williams added, “In addition to working with critical public
interest groups and broadening consumer access in the OTC retail
setting, Emergent is also engaging with partners who are aligned
with our mission to expand access, awareness and availability of
NARCAN® Nasal Spray to educate and reach businesses and employers.
All of the critical work we do each and every day, as well as the
survey data we have collected, helps us understand and respond to
the opioid epidemic as it continues to evolve.”
About the SurveyOn behalf of Emergent, Bryter
Global surveyed a representative sample of 2,010 Americans (adults
18+) and found that awareness of naloxone’s ability to reverse a
fentanyl overdose is relatively high (72 percent). However, more
than half of the respondents did not think that naloxone nasal
spray availability is very relevant to them, highlighting a gap in
awareness of the life-saving product.
Younger generations aged 18-34 and those with lower levels of
education (up to high school) were less likely to be aware naloxone
can reverse the effects of fentanyl, putting these already
vulnerable populations at further risk. These results emphasize the
need for continued education to increase public understanding of
naloxone’s role in preventing fentanyl-related deaths.
About
NARCAN® Nasal
SprayNARCAN® Naloxone HCl Nasal Spray 4 mg is the
first FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) 4 mg naloxone product
for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. NARCAN® Nasal
Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Repeat dosing
may be necessary. Use as directed.
To learn more about this life-saving medicine and access
resources, education and advocacy tools, visit NARCAN.com.
About Emergent BioSolutionsAt Emergent,
our mission is to protect and enhance life. For 25 years, we’ve
been at work defending people from things we hope will never
happen—so we are prepared just in case they ever do. We provide
solutions for complex and urgent public health threats through a
portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics that we develop and
manufacture for governments and consumers. We also offer a range of
integrated contract development and manufacturing services for
pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. To learn more about how
we plan to protect or enhance 1 billion lives by 2030, visit
our website and follow us
on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Apple
Podcasts and Spotify.
Safe Harbor StatementThis press release
includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements. We generally identify forward-looking statements by
using words like “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,”
“may,” “plan,” “position,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,”
“project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar
expressions or variations thereof, or the negative thereof, but
these terms are not the exclusive means of identifying such
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current
intentions, beliefs and expectations regarding future events based
on information that is currently available. We cannot guarantee
that any forward-looking statements will be accurate. Readers
should realize that if underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or
if known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual
results could differ materially from our expectations. Readers are,
therefore, cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date of this press release, and, except as required
by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement to reflect new information, events or
circumstances.
There are a number of important factors that could cause the
company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated
by any forward-looking statements. Readers should consider this
cautionary statement, as well as the risk factors and other
disclosures included in our periodic reports filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, when evaluating our
forward-looking statements.
1 Bryter Inc. interviewed 2,010 American adults online
between May 10 and May 12, 2024. The survey was designed
representative of the American adult (18+) population by age,
gender, region and household income. Data on file.
2 Statement from CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deb Houry on 2023
Overdose Death Data. CDC Newsroom. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-overdose-data.html.
Accessed on May 21, 2024.
Investor Contact:Richard S. LindahlExecutive Vice President,
CFOlindahlr@ebsi.com
Media Contact:Assal HellmerVice President,
Communicationsmediarelations@ebsi.com
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