Press Release
<p>FERRING PRESENTS $10,000 GRAND PRIZE TO WINNER OF <i>MY LITTLE MIRACLE</i> ESSAY CONTEST</p>
<p><strong>Contest Winner Announced at ASRM</strong> </p>
<table>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><p><b>Contact:</b></p></td>
<td width="20" valign="top"></td>
<td><p>Kelly Laban<br>
Kovak-Likly Communications<br>
(203)762-8833 or KLaban@KLCpr.com</p></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>PHILADELPHIA - October 18, 2004 - Ferring Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of
a family of fertility treatments, today announced that Jennifer and Stephen
Lyon, of Overland Park, Kansas, are the grand prize winners of its <i>My Little
Miracle</i> Essay Contest. Wayne Anderson, president of Ferring, presented the
Lyons with a $10,000 check to be deposited in an education fund for their one-year-old
daughters, Ella and Catherine, born with the help of Ferring’s Repronex™
(menotropins for injection, USP). The presentation was made on October 17 at
the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
in Philadelphia. </p>
<p>“Although it was a different kind of surprise, I think I was almost as shocked
to hear that we won this contest as I was to hear we were expecting twins,”
said Jennifer Lyon. “And here I was thinking that as a mother of three infants,
being shocked was a thing of the past. The education fund is another wonderful
gift from the company that has already made a priceless contribution to our
miracle family.” </p>
<p>“We are delighted to offer this program to help fertility patients contribute
to their children’s future,” said Wayne Anderson, president, Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
“Ferring is committed to providing patients with safe, effective and affordable
fertility treatments. This program is an extension of Ferring’s support of its
patients.” </p>
<p>The <i>My Little Miracle</i> essay contest celebrated the births of children
made possible through Ferring’s fertility treatments, Bravelle™
(urofollitropin for injection, purified) and Repronex™
(menotropins for injection, USP). Ferring awarded $25,000 in education funds
to 12 winners from around the country. </p>
<p><strong>The Contest Winners</strong><br/>
The Lyons had tried to conceive unsuccessfully for almost three years when they
turned to adoption to start a family. At the same time, Doctors Daniel L. Stewart
and Dan L. Gehlbach at Reproductive Medicine & Infertility at Shawnee Mission
Medical Center urged them to consider one more option–an intrauterine insemination
(IUI) treatment cycle with Repronex™.
They agreed and began treatment, but continued to pursue adoption. Six weeks
after completing the required papers for adoption, the Lyons were notified that
they had been chosen to be the parents of a young boy. Their joy was then doubled
when they learned that Jennifer was pregnant–with twins. In her essay,
Jennifer speaks of her experience: </p>
<p><i>“It’s a typical afternoon. Laundry piles everywhere. ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’
is on its fourteenth playing, as someone has hidden the stereo remote. Our
twenty-month old, Jackson, donning one high-heeled shoe, is trying to perfect
his summersault in the laundry. Fifteen month-old Ella, diaper self-removed,
is on a naked mission to ‘love’ (a.k.a. torture) the cat, while her twin Catherine
is on tiptoes pounding out a baby sonata on the piano. I can’t remember a
time when this house was quiet or clean, and I don’t really care. … They climb
everything in sight, know how to really shake it when provided with the right
tunes, and give the best hugs know, to man and most furry creatures. They
don’t realize they’re our miracles…but we do.”</i> </p>
<p>John and Fiona Doskocz, of Northville, Michigan, are the runner-up winners
and will receive a $5,000 education fund for their nine-month-old sons, Evan
and Tyler. Ten honorable mention winners will each receive a $1,000 education
fund for their children born with the help of Ferring’s fertility treatments. </p>
<p><strong>About Bravelle™ and Repronex™</strong> </p>
<p>Bravelle™, a highly
purified human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) for infertility treatment,
contains 75 IU of FSH and up to two percent LH activity. Bravelle™,
administered SC or IM in conjunction with hCG, is indicated for ovulation induction
following pituitary suppression. Bravelle™,
administered SC in conjunction with hCG, is also indicated for multiple follicular
development during ART cycles in patients who have previously received pituitary
suppression. </p>
<p>Repronex™ is the
only human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) on the market and is approved for both
subcutaneous and intramuscular administration. </p>
<p>Bravelle™ and Repronex™,
like all gonadotropins, are potent substances capable of causing mild to severe
adverse reactions, including OHSS (incidence of 6.0% and 3.5%, respectively),
with or without pulmonary or vascular complications, in women undergoing therapy
for infertility. </p>
<p>Both treatments are marketed by Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., a world leader
in naturally occurring protein hormones. Only physicians thoroughly familiar
with infertility treatment, including the risk of multiple births and adverse
reactions, should prescribe these medications. Like other products for ovarian
stimulation, treatment with Repronex™ and/ or Bravelle™ may result in multiple gestations. </p>
<p><strong>About Ferring Pharmaceuticals</strong><br/>
Ferring Pharmaceuticals, part of the Ferring Group, a privately owned, international
pharmaceutical company, markets Bravelle™,
Repronex™ and Novarel™
in the U.S. to infertility specialists and their patients. The Ferring Group
specializes in the research, development and commercialization of compounds
in general and pediatric endocrinology, urology, gastroenterology, obstetrics/gynecology
and infertility. For more information, call 888-337-7464 or visit <a href="http://www.ferringusa.com" target="_blank">www.ferringusa.com</a>
or <a href="http://www.ferringusa.com" target="_blank">www.ferringfertility.com</a>. </p>
EUFLEXXA (1% sodium hyaluronate) is used to relieve knee pain due to osteoarthritis. It is used in people who do not get enough relief from simple pain medications such as acetaminophen or from exercise and physical therapy.
Important Safety Information
You should not receive this product if you have had any previous allergic reaction to EUFLEXXA or hyaluronan products. You should not have an injection into the knee if you have a knee joint infection or if you have skin disease or infection around the injection site.
EUFLEXXA is only for injection into the knee performed by a qualified doctor. After you receive this injection you may need to avoid activities such as jogging, tennis, heavy lifting, or standing on your feet for a long time (more than one hour). The safety and effectiveness of repeat treatment cycles of EUFLEXXA have not been established. The safety and effectiveness of EUFLEXXA have not been shown in people under 18 years of age.
Side effects sometimes seen when EUFLEXXA is injected into the knee joint were pain, swelling, skin irritation, and tenderness and these were generally mild and did not last long.
Please see Full Prescribing Information.
Please see Important Information for Patients.
PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR, OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE USING ANY PRODUCT DISCUSSED WITHIN THIS WEB SITE.
This website is intended only for US residents.
Euflexxa® is a registered trademark of Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
