Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. Congratulates All 2011 Summer National Senior Games Athletes

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. proudly sponsors the 2011 Summer National Senior Games (NSG) in Houston in an effort to help increase awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle—the cornerstone of healthy aging.The NSG is the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors and is organized by the National Senior Games Association, a non-profit member of the United States Olympic Committee, which is dedicated to motivating senior men and women to lead healthy lifestyles through exercise and fitness.Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the makers of EUFLEXXA® (1 percent sodium hyaluronate), a prescription treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain, recognizes that a major part of healthy aging is staying fit and active even when facing chronic diseases like knee osteoarthritis (OA). Knee OA is one of the five leading causes of disability among men and women.1 Additionally, women are disproportionately impacted by the burden of OA. Of the nearly 27 million people affected by OA, approximately 16 million are women.2,3Last month, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. launched the W.A.K.E. Up & Flexx Campaign (Women's Arthritic Knee Education), a national public awareness initiative to help address the disproportionately high number of women impacted by knee OA. In order to maintain mobility and health, it is important for those suffering from knee OA and the associated pain to educate themselves and their loved ones about appropriate treatment options by speaking with their physicians.Gloria Gaynor, the national W.A.K.E. Up & Flexx campaign spokesperson, will help kick off the NSG Opening Ceremonies with a performance of her GRAMMY® award winning song, "I Will Survive"—a tale of personal strength and perseverance. The EUFLEXXA® team will also have a series of special contests and prizes onsite at their booth promoting the need to remain fit and active."Whether you are a seasoned triathlete or embarking on your first relay race, OA knee pain can affect people at every athletic level. That is why we are excited to be a sponsor of this year's Games and look forward to an event filled with sportsmanship that promotes healthy lifestyles and celebrates the core tenants of fit, healthy aging," commented Paul Maccini, Business Unit Head of Orthopaedics, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Congratulates R&B and Pop Icon Gloria Gaynor, Named 'Woman of the Year' by Arthritis Foundation Read more: Ferring Phar

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. congratulates GRAMMY® award-winning recording artist Gloria Gaynor, who will receive the inaugural Woman of the Year award from the Arthritis Foundation's New York Chapter. As part of the Foundation's arthritis awareness initiative, Women on the Move, Gaynor is being recognized for her formidable personal and professional accomplishments despite being diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee more than 25 years ago. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, women older than 50 years of age are more likely to develop OA of the knee than men, and approximately 60 percent of OA sufferers are women. (1) (2) Following her diagnosis in 1984, Gaynor struggled with appropriate treatment options for 25 years. As the national spokesperson for EUFLEXXA® (1 percent sodium hyaluronate) , a hyaluronic acid treatment therapy for the pain associated with knee OA, Gaynor has passionately advocated the need for increased awareness of OA knee pain, treatment options and the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. "We are excited that the Arthritis Foundation has decided to honor Gloria in this way and help bring much needed attention to a disease where approximately 16 million of the nearly 27 million impacted are women," said Paul Maccini, Business Unit Head of Orthopaedics, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. Gaynor's hit 1978 record "I Will Survive" is a veritable anthem for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable odds, and in 1980, Gaynor earned the only GRAMMY® ever to be given for a Disco recording for "I Will Survive."

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Unveils Six-Month Efficacy Data for EUFLEXXA(R) for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

PARSIPPANY, N.J., - Ferring Pharmaceuticals recently presented the results of a six-month safety and efficacy study demonstrating that EUFLEXXA(R) (1% sodium hyaluronate) was effective at decreasing the pain of knee osteoarthritis (OA) at 26 weeks. The study showed that EUFLEXXA (R) is superior to saline in decreasing pain at 26 weeks in patients with OA of the knee.(1) The study results were presented by Dr. Roy D. Altman in a poster at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons on February 23, 2009.

EUFLEXXA(R) is a three-injection treatment regimen indicated for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative non-pharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics. The goal of hyaluronic acid (HA) therapy is to reduce pain and improve physical function by replenishing the HA in human synovial fluid (fluid in joints). In OA, this fluid becomes thinner, leading to a decrease in elasticity and viscosity.

About the Study

The multicenter, 26-week, randomized, double-blind trial compared EUFLEXXA(R) and intra-articular buffered saline (IA-SA) for level of pain following a 50-Foot Walk Test, measured by 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). The 586 patients with chronic idiopathic knee OA were randomized to treatment with either product in a 1:1 ratio. Each patient received one weekly injection for 3 weeks with 9 follow-up visits over 26 weeks after the first injection.

The EUFLEXXA(R) group showed an advantage over saline in pain reduction, with a larger mean decrease from baseline in pain scores: -25.7 (28.9) mm versus -18.5(32.5) mm respectively, with a least squares means of -6.6 mm (P=0.002). At 26 weeks, 145 (58%) of EUFLEXXA(R) subjects reported a greater than or equal to 20-mm improvement in pain based on the VAS scoring, compared with 120 (46%) in the other group (P=0.006). The percentage of Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) responders for the EUFLEXXA(R) group was also significantly greater than that in the other group (67% versus 59% (P=0.047). A subject is considered a responder if there is a high improvement in pain or function, or improvement in at least two of the following three categories: pain greater than or equal to 20% and absolute change greater than or equal to 10 mm, function greater than or equal to 20% and absolute change greater than or equal to 10 mm, and/or patient global assessment greater than or equal to 20% and absolute change.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Join Together to Launch Nurse Liaison Program

PARSIPPANY, N.J.,-Ferring Pharmaceuticals, which offers the broadest portfolio of fertility treatments in the U.S., has partnered with leading patient advocate organization, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, to launch the RESOLVE Nurse Liaison Program during National Infertility Awareness Week(R) (NIAW), April 25-May 2. The program was developed to create a network of nurses from every Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) member infertility center in the United States to serve as RESOLVE ambassadors in their medical practice. Since nurses play a crucial role in the patient care process, the program was designed to arm them with relevant information about treatment options and valuable educational materials for infertility patients.

Nurses who enroll in the RESOLVE Nurse Liaison Program will receive e-communication on a regular basis with up-to-date patient education materials and other available resources. In addition, RESOLVE will periodically ask for feedback from nurses on the current state of patient education in infertility and gaps that they see in patient's knowledge. As a member of this valuable program, nurses will be prominently featured on RESOLVE's Web site and have the opportunity to contribute articles and speak at RESOLVE events.

"RESOLVE is proud to collaborate with Ferring Pharmaceuticals especially during National Infertility Awareness Week(R). Our goal is to spread information about infertility and its treatments to those fighting the disease of infertility," said Barbara Collura, RESOLVE's executive director. "We are thrilled to be partnering with a leader in the field of infertility who can help RESOLVE provide vital information to the nurses who are on the front lines of the patient care journey."

"Ferring is pleased to be working with RESOLVE to give nurses the resources they need to enhance the patient care journey," said Olivier Delannoy, vice president, Infertility Business Unit at Ferring. "As a leader in providing patients with access to affordable and user-friendly treatment options, Ferring remains committed to supporting the reproductive community with the tools they need to help simplify the patient treatment process."