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news.Salix Pharmaceuticals' Xifaxan (rifaximin) 550mg tablets, used for the reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence in patients 18 years of age or older, are available in the US pharmacies. Xifaxan 550mg was approved by the FDA on March 24, 2010 in a twice daily dose.
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Salix Pharmaceuticals said that the availability of Xifaxan 550mg occurs in tandem with the launch of Salix’s Hepatic Encephalopathy Living Program (HELP), a patient and health care provider support program for overt HE patients 18 years of age or older.
The program provides those HE patients with educational materials, co-pay assistance, treatment adherence support and a 24-hour toll-free hotline. Upon registration, patients are expected to receive a co-pay assistance card, which can offer up to $100 in reimbursement for each prescription for one year.
Arun Sanyal, chairman of division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, said: “The availability of Xifaxan 550mg is important for patients suffering from overt hepatic encephalopathy.
“This drug is supported by findings from the randomised trial of maintenance therapy in HE conducted, demonstrating not only a clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of overt HE recurrence, but also a risk reduction of HE-related hospitalisation.”
Bill Forbes, executive vice president of research and development and chief development officer at Salix Pharmaceuticals, said: “There is an urgent need for healthcare providers, patients and their families to understand the threat posed by overt HE and to seek information about how to recognise its symptoms and obtain treatment.”