LEIDEN, The Netherlands, December 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Pharming Launches RUCOVITAE(TM) On-Demand Care Programme in Austria, Germany and The Netherlands
Pharming Group N.V. ("Pharming") (Euronext : PHARM)(Amsterdam : PHARM) announces that the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") has recently renewed the marketing authorization for RUCONEST for an unlimited period. RUCONEST, the first and only recombinant (non-blood-derived) C1-esterase inhibitor replacement therapy, was first approved by the EMA in June 2010 for the treatment of acute attacks of Hereditary Angioedema ("HAE"). Such initial marketing authorisation is normally issued initially for five years, and reviewed for extension after these first five years.
The recommendation of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for renewal of the marketing authorization is based on the positive patient benefit-risk profile for RUCONEST for the treatment of HAE attacks.
In addition, Pharming reports that RUCOVITAE, the Company's patient support programme, is now available to eligible HAE sufferers in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. RUCOVITAE aims to provide patients with timely on-demand therapy at their home or other specified location to assist them in dealing with their HAE disease and optimize their HAE treatment. The on-demand, on-location care services are provided in Germany and Austria by homecare organisation Atlantis Healthcare Deutschland GmbH and in the Netherlands by Dutch homecare organisation Eurocept B.V. through their country-wide networks of community-based specialised nurses. Eligible HAE patients can enrol in RUCOVITAE through their physician.
Sijmen de Vries, Pharming's CEO, commented: "We welcome the positive conclusions reached by the EMA in extending the marketing authorization for RUCONEST. We are also very excited that we have been able to organize and initiate RUCOVITAE. This round-the clock, seven days a week "on-demand, on-location" care programme is accessible for every eligible HAE patient in Austria, Germany and Netherlands. We know that by investing in offering HAE patients such care to treat acute attacks with RUCONEST, we will be able to help them improve their quality of life and limit the impact of HAE on their lives by treating an attack as early as possible."