LOS ANGELES--June 16, 1999--With the help of Earvin "Magic" Johnson, AstraZeneca, A Business Unit of Zeneca Inc., today announced its west coast launch of "The BREATHE Program"-Bringing Education on Asthma To Homes Everywhere-a national asthma education initiative focusing on families who face the daunting task of managing asthma. In partnership with Mr. Johnson and the Magic Johnson Foundation, The BREATHE Program will educate children and parents about the impact of asthma in urban environments and teach them more about prevention and treatment of this chronic condition.
"Asthma can be controlled; it is unacceptable that hospitalizations and deaths have risen, especially in minority communities," said Floyd J. Malveaux, MD, PhD, Dean, College of Medicine at Howard University in Washington, DC. He added, "Poverty appears to be a major factor in the disparity experienced by minorities, and programs like BREATHE, which address some of these obstacles, are important and will likely make a difference."
Los Angeles Public Health Director, Jonathan Fielding, M.D., MPH, commented, "Inner city residents in all major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, who live, work, and attend school in urban areas face many health problems, but are increasingly affected by respiratory ailments, especially asthma. Los Angeles is proud to be selected for this important educational initiative and welcomes the opportunity for collaboration with The BREATHE Program."
The BREATHE Program was kicked off today at David Starr Jordan School in Los Angeles where Mr. Johnson and representatives from AstraZeneca, maker of ACCOLATE(r) (zafirlukast) Tablets, were joined by city officials, school nurses, local health care professionals, and high school students to discuss how to combat the rising prevalence of asthma in urban areas. In addition to outlining the mission and scope of BREATHE,AstraZeneca donated 1,000 peak flow meters and scholarship funds to the WATTSHealth Charities. These BREATHE scholarships will be awarded to college-bound students with asthma. The peak flow meters-which measure patient's asthma severity-will help asthma patients better monitor their condition and help lead to improved treatment. The morning program also included a dedication of the school's health clinic and health education and counseling center. Clyde Oden, O.D, MPH., from WATTSHealth Foundation and Marshall McNott of the WATTSHealth Charities led the ribbon cutting fo
"When it comes to chronic diseases like asthma, the decision is not whether we should invest in the future of our children, but how soon can we make the commitment," added Magic Johnson. "The Magic Johnson Foundation is thrilled to partner with AstraZeneca on this terrific asthma education program."
Components of The BREATHE Program, which will be rolled out nationally to families and schools in major urban areas throughout 1999 and beyond, include bilingual educational materials, an interactive Web site (www.breatheinfo.com), provision of education grants to help fund local health initiatives, regional and community-based events, and an art competition. In addition, thousands of peak flow meters are being donated to local health concerns for distribution to inner-city schools in asthma hot zones.
"As a company, AstraZeneca is committed to patient education, as well as to the development of new therapies which help improve the quality of life for people," said Tom McKillop, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca. He added, "AstraZeneca is very excited to partner with a distinguished organization such as the Magic Johnson Foundation to address this major health issue."
Asthma is the most common chronic medical problem affecting young adults.(1) An estimated 17 million Americans suffer from asthma,(2) including more than five million children under the age of 18.(3) Since 1980, asthma in children under the age of five has jumped 160 percent.(4) African-Americans, Hispanics, and people living in urban environments appear to be at the greatest risk for asthma.(5)
"Asthma is the number one cause of school absences due to chronic illness," said Raiford Woods, Ed.D., clinic director at the Magic Johnson Student Health Center, which provides comprehensive medical, counseling and health education services for 11,000 students of the Los Angeles United School District in the Watts inner-city area of south central Los Angeles. He added, "The messages of The BREATHE Program, such as better asthma management skills and increased awareness of triggers, are so important for the health of students."
Magic Johnson Foundation The Magic Johnson Foundation originally was established to raise funds for community-based organizations that deal with HIV/AIDS educational and prevention programs. Now, the scope of the Foundation has expanded to include initiatives in other important disease areas and awarding grants to community-based organizations that deal with other educational, health, and social programs for America's youth, particularly those residing in inner city communities. The naming of the student health center at David Starr Jordan High School for Magic Johnson was a result of a generous grant to the WATTSHealth Foundation, operators of the clinic.
AstraZeneca and Advancements in the Treatment of Asthma Asthma can be triggered by numerous factors, but pollution, cigarette smoke, house dust mites, cats, cockroaches, and molds are more intense in urban environments. Although no cure exists for asthma, it can be effectively controlled.
In November 1996, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals introduced ACCOLATE(r) (zafirlukast) Tablets, a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), which was the first product in the first new class of asthma drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration in nearly 25 years. In the United States to date, ACCOLATE tablets have been prescribed nearly 5 million times for patients ages 12 years and older for the preventive and chronic treatment of asthma. Patients on therapy with ACCOLATE take one tablet in the morning and one tablet in the evening, even during symptom-free periods, to control asthma symptoms all day and all night.
ACCOLATE therapy is an oral controller agent available by prescription only. ACCOLATE is taken twice daily, even during symptom-free periods, either one hour before or two hours after meals. ACCOLATE should not be used to reverse a sudden asthma attack. ACCOLATE tablets are generally well tolerated by most patients. Patients should consult with their doctors before changing their current asthma medications, if they are prescribed a blood thinner, if they are nursing, or if their medical condition worsens. Side effects include headache (12.9%), infection (3.5%), and nausea (3.1%); these were not significantly different from placebo (11.7%, 3.4%, 2.0%, respectively).(6)
AstraZeneca PLC is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world based on sales and is a therapeutic leader in gastrointestinal, oncology, anesthesia including pain management, cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products. Based in the United Kingdom, AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN) is a major $15.8 billion international bioscience business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, and the supply of healthcare services. The U.S. operations of AstraZeneca include AstraZeneca, a business unit of Zeneca Inc., AstraZeneca LP, Zeneca Ag Products and Salick Health Care. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $7.2 billion bioscience business with approximately 10,000 employees.
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Contact: Kristen Williams AstraZeneca, A Business Unit of Zeneca Inc. 302-886-7719 [email protected]
(1)Stapleton, Stephanie, "Asthma rates hit epidemic numbers; experts wonder why." American Medical News; May 11, 1998, p4. (2)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Asthma Prevention Program of the National Center for Environmental Health, At-a-Glance, 1998. (3)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Surveillance for Asthma-United States, 1960-1995." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Vol.47, No. 22-1, 4/24/98. (4)Stapleton. (5)Friebele, Elaine, "The Attack of Asthma," Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 104, Number 1. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 1996. (6)In clinical trials, an increased proportion of patients on ACCOLATE therapy who are over the age of 55 reported infection compared to those treated with placebo.
NOTES: For further information on The BREATHE Program or to arrange an interview, please contact Kristen Williams at 302-886-7719 or at [email protected]. The BREATHE web site can be found at http://www.breatheinfo.com.
For full prescribing information for ACCOLATE, please call 1-800-456-3669, ext. 2231, or access the World Wide Web at http://www.usa.AstraZeneca.com/pharm/pibs/pib_accolate.htm.
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