View printer-friendly version

Download PDF

Emergent BioSolutions to Offer All Public Libraries and YMCAs in the U.S. Free Opioid Awareness Education and NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray

• New initiatives make free doses and educational materials available to thousands of public libraries & YMCAs in the U.S.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) today announced, through its subsidiary Adapt Pharma, the launch of two new programs to raise public awareness of the potential risks of opioids and the importance of preparedness in case of an opioid emergency. Specifically, Emergent will continue its commitment to expand access to naloxone by offering one free box (two doses) of NARCAN^® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray– the leading community use naloxone¹ – and educational materials to all 16,568 public libraries and 2,700 YMCAs, reaching thousands of communities throughout the U.S.

“Following the roadmap of the free NARCAN^® Nasal Spray for Schools program launched in 2016 and expanded in 2018, we are forging new collaborations and creating new channels to broaden the reach of our education efforts and to make naloxone more accessible within communities,” said Doug White, senior vice president and head of Emergent’s devices business unit. “These two programs reflect our commitment to educating the public about the potential risks of opioids and the critical role of naloxone during an opioid overdose emergency and reinforce our mission – to protect and enhance life.”

“Public libraries are at the heart of every U.S. community and collaborate each day with partners to address critical local needs,” said Michelle Jeske, Denver Public Library City Librarian and member of the Public Library Association Board and of the Libraries and the Opioid Crisis Steering Committee. “During the current opioid crisis, libraries are working with other public agencies to identify and share vital information and resources, host community forums, and provide staff trainings to respond to overdoses. This is one step of a long journey toward lasting community-based solutions.”

“For more than 165 years, the Y has stepped forward to address pressing social issues facing our communities and our country,” said YMCA of the USA President and CEO Kevin Washington. “Opioid addiction, long a problem in many communities, has swept across our nation, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, in big cities and their suburbs, small towns and rural areas. We are grateful to Emergent BioSolutions for providing Ys nationwide with critical resources to educate their communities about opioid addiction and the importance of being prepared to treat overdoses.”

Earlier this month, Emergent completed the acquisition of Adapt Pharma and its flagship product NARCAN^® Nasal Spray, the first and only intranasal form of naloxone approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada, for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.

For more information please contact NARCAN customer service at 844-232-7811. Program enrollment forms available at https://www.narcan.com/community/education-awareness-and-training-resources

About NARCAN^® Nasal Spray 4mg
NARCAN^® Nasal Spray 4mg is the first and only FDA-approved, needle-free presentation of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. It does not require assembly or any specialized medical training and is also the highest concentrated dose of intranasal naloxone currently available. NARCAN^® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care, and additional doses of NARCAN^® Nasal Spray may be required until emergency medical assistance arrives. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance.

Please see Indications and Important Safety Information below.

Indications
NARCAN^® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. NARCAN^® Nasal Spray is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present. NARCAN^® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care.

Important Safety Information
NARCAN^® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to naloxone hydrochloride or to any of the other ingredients.

Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after initial use, keeping the patient under continued surveillance.

Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and CNS Depression: Due to the duration of action of naloxone relative to the opioid, keep the patient under continued surveillance and administer repeat doses of naloxone using a new nasal spray with each dose, as necessary, while awaiting emergency medical assistance.

Risk of Limited Efficacy with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonists/Antagonists: Reversal of respiratory depression caused by partial agonists or mixed agonists/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete. Larger or repeat doses may be required.

Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal: Use in patients who are opioid dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal characterized by body aches, fever, sweating, runny nose, sneezing, piloerection, yawning, weakness, shivering or trembling, nervousness, restlessness or irritability, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, increased blood pressure, and tachycardia. In some patients, there may be aggressive behavior upon abrupt reversal of an opioid overdose. In neonates, opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening if not recognized and properly treated and may also include convulsions, excessive crying, and hyperactive reflexes. Monitor for the development of opioid withdrawal.

Risk of Cardiovascular (CV) Effects: Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid depression may result in adverse CV effects. These events have primarily occurred in patients who had pre-existing CV disorders or received other drugs that may have similar adverse CV effects. Monitor these patients closely in an appropriate healthcare setting after use of naloxone hydrochloride.

Adverse Reactions: The following adverse reactions were observed in a NARCAN^® Nasal Spray clinical study: increased blood pressure, constipation, toothache, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, headache, nasal dryness, nasal edema, nasal congestion, nasal inflammation, rhinalgia, and xeroderma.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Adapt Pharma, Inc. at 1-844-4-NARCAN (1-844-462-7226) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see full Prescribing Information at: https://www.narcan.com/pdf/NARCAN-Prescribing-Information.pdf.

For additional information on NARCAN^® Nasal Spray, please visit www.NARCAN.com.

For questions regarding NARCAN^® Nasal Spray distribution, please call 1-844-4-NARCAN (462-7226).

About Emergent BioSolutions
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a global life sciences company seeking to protect and enhance life by focusing on providing specialty products for civilian and military populations that address accidental, intentional, and naturally occurring public health threats. Through our work, we envision protecting and enhancing 50 million lives with our products by 2025. Additional information about the company may be found at emergentbiosolutions.com. Find us on LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter @emergentbiosolu and Instagram @life_at_emergent.

¹Symphony TRx Naloxone Market Analytics, week ending October 5, 2018