Access Pharmaceuticals Signs Exclusive Specialty Distribution Agreement With BioScrip
Agreement Provides Multi-level Distribution Of Lead Product, Including Inventory In Over 30 Top Metro Areas
DALLAS and NEW YORK, July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in products for cancer and supportive care, announced today it has signed an exclusive specialty distribution agreement with BioScrip (Nasdaq: BIOS) for its lead product, MuGard -- an FDA-approved, ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The agreement aligns the Company with comprehensive access to BioScrip's nationwide distribution platform and the ability to leverage the company's extensive physician relationships, 110 BioScrip specialty pharmacies, mail distribution capability and diversified payor network.
BioScrip, Inc. (www.bioscrip.com) (Nasdaq: BIOS) is a national provider of specialty pharmacy and home care products and services that partners with patients, physicians, hospitals, healthcare payors and pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide clinical management solutions and delivery of cost-effective access to prescription medications. Its services are designed to improve clinical outcomes for chronic and acute healthcare conditions while controlling overall healthcare costs.
"As one of the largest, top-tier players in this space, BioScrip is well-established, reputable and focused on tailoring its programs to best fit and meet product manufacturers, provider and payers and patients' pharmacy service needs," said Frank Jacobucci, VP of Sales and Marketing for Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He continued, "In addition to the varied services that they will provide us, this partnership also results in multiple delivery options for patients in need of MuGard, including overnight delivery, home delivery and live retail pharmacy sites in the top metropolitan areas. We believe offering various methods of receiving MuGard can significantly increase patient compliance and ultimately provide an important additional weapon to help improve the treatment outcome."
"BioScrip is proud to have been selected by Access to be its exclusive distribution and service partner for MuGard. Our vast clinical, sales and operational specialty pharmacy assets, combined with our deep oncology experience, put us in an unique position to provide services to the patient, manufacturer, provider and payor communities," said Scott Friedman, Senior VP of Trade Relations and Business Development for BioScrip, Inc.
"Signing a strong specialty distribution partner is a critical milestone for a successful entrance into the US market," said Jeffrey Davis, CEO of Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He continued, "With its significant resources, deep capabilities and strong commitment to cancer patients, BioScrip is an ideal partner to have in place as we continue executing on our global-commercialization strategy for MuGard."
About MuGard:
MuGard is a novel; ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse and coating for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of many anticancer treatments. Up to 40% of all patients receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy develop moderate to severe mucositis, and almost all patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and those undergoing stem cell transplantation develop mucositis. Updated clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of mucositis recommend the use of a preventive oral care regimen as part of routine supportive care along with a therapeutic oral care regimen if mucositis develops. The market for the treatment of oral mucositis is estimated to be in excess of $1 billionworld-wide.
About Access:
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes proprietary products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access' products include ProLindac™, currently in Phase II clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer, and MuGard™ for the management of patients with mucositis. The company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including Cobalamin™-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery, its proprietary nanopolymer delivery technology based on the natural vitamin B12 uptake mechanism and Thiarabine, a new generation nucleoside analog which has demonstrated both pre-clinical and clinical activity in certain cancers. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at www.accesspharma.com.
