Columbus, OH, September 26, 2003 -- Rxpedite, an alliance between inChord Communications and Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH), has announced an agreement with Acorda Therapeutics to manage the commercialization of Fampridine-SR, a product candidate in development for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Rxpedite provides comprehensive sales and marketing solutions to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients that do not have the internal resources to manage the commercialization process on their own. Through Rxpedite, clients can access customized services ranging from marketing planning, development and implementation; through product manufacturing; packaging and distribution; and sales force deployment.
“We are delighted to work with Acorda to put Rxpedite's resources behind the potential launch of Fampridine-SR,” said Dan Twibell, executive vice president of CHS, a company of inChord.
Rxpedite will be helping Acorda develop and implement a plan to launch Fampridine-SR, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. In the event Acorda receives FDA approval to commercialize Fampridine-SR, Cardinal Health will provide sales force deployment, medical education, publication planning, product warehousing, distribution and technical support. inChord will provide marketing strategy and implementation through CHS, its contract marketing organization; professional and consumer advertising through Palio Communications, its full-spectrum advertising agency; Web marketing and promotion through Blue Diesel, its interactive company; data analysis through Health Process Management, its data analytics company; and product branding through Y, its strategic branding company.
"“We are proud to partner with these proven industry leaders and look forward to leveraging their significant commercial capabilities, including their demonstrated expertise in building a specialty sales force,” said Mary Fisher, vice president of commercial operations at Acorda Therapeutics.
About SCI
Spinal Cord Injury is one of the most devastating of all disabilities. Every year, more than 10,000 individuals in the United States sustain a spinal cord injury. There are currently more than 250,000 individuals in the United States living with spinal cord injury.
About Fampridine-SR
Fampridine-SR is an oral, small molecule drug contained in a sustained release tablet form. Laboratory studies have shown that fampridine, the active molecule of Fampridine-SR, improves impulse conduction in nerve fibers in which the insulating layer of the spinal cord, called myelin, has been damaged. This damage may be caused by physical trauma in the case of SCI or by the body's own immune system in the case of MS. It is in Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy in improving spasticity in people with chronic SCI, and Phase 2 trials to evaluate its efficacy in improving walking ability and muscle strength in MS.
Rxpedite is an alliance between Cardinal Health, Inc. and inChord Communications Inc. to provide outsourced marketing and sales solutions to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Cardinal Health (www.cardinal.com) is the leading provider of products and services supporting the healthcare industry with annual revenue of more than $50 billion. Cardinal Health businesses develop, manufacture, package and market products for patient care; develop drug-delivery technologies; distribute pharmaceuticals, medical-surgical and laboratory supplies; and offer consulting and other services that improve quality and efficiency in health care. inChord (www.inchord.com) is the world's largest independent healthcare marketing company with annual revenue of more than $83 million. Through its seven companies, inChord provides a full range of marketing services including advertising, branding, interactive communication, medical education, data analytics, contract marketing, research, PR and event marketing. Both Cardinal Health and inChord are based in the greater Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area.
Acorda is a privately-held biotechnology company developing therapies for spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and other central nervous system disorders.