ARDSLEY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR) today announced it has launched a new community resource for people with Parkinson’s, “The Many Faces of OFFSM1” Facebook page. The site, which is going live in conjunction with the upcoming 4th World Parkinson Congress (WPC), will provide a forum for people with Parkinson’s to learn more about OFF periods and connect with each other to share experiences.
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OFF periods are characterized by the re-emergence of Parkinson’s symptoms, including motor symptoms such as the impaired ability to move, muscle stiffness, and tremor.
“People with Parkinson’s regularly tell us that they need more information about OFF periods and would also value an online forum dedicated to the impact of OFF, as they don’t always have a dialogue with their healthcare team about these experiences,” said David Squillacote, M.D., Vice President, Medical Affairs for Acorda. “We established this new resource to provide high-quality content from the community and healthcare professionals, and to enable discussions about OFF among people with Parkinson’s.”
“The Many Faces of OFF” Facebook page includes videos of people with Parkinson’s and care partners talking about their personal challenges of OFF. The page also provides explanations of key concepts and tips for living with OFF periods, and is expected to host Parkinson’s disease events. Importantly, the page encourages the Parkinson’s community to participate and share their stories.
Acorda is launching the Facebook page as part of a broader educational initiative around OFF periods. At this year’s WPC, being held September 20-23 in Portland, OR, Acorda is hosting a symposium entitled “The Many Faces of OFF: Realities and Impact.” This symposium will feature people with Parkinson’s discussing their experience with OFF periods, while movement disorder specialists Raj Pahwa, M.D. and Larry Elmer, M.D, Ph.D. will discuss the impact of OFF, and challenges to effective communication of this impact between people with Parkinson’s and their physicians.
“The Many Faces of OFF” symposium is being held on September 22 at 7:00 pm and is open to all WPC attendees. Registration information can be found here. Acorda will also host an interactive experience about OFF periods at its “The Many Faces of OFF” booth (WPC Booth #800).
Acorda is also presenting several research posters at WPC.
Approximately one million Americans, 1.2 million Europeans, and between seven and ten million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's disease.
1 The Many Faces of OFF is a service mark of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
About Parkinson’s Disease and OFF Periods
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting from the gradual loss of certain neurons responsible for producing dopamine, which causes impairment of motor function including impaired ability to move, muscle stiffness and tremors. Non-motor symptoms are also common; they include anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties and gastrointestinal (GI) challenges among others.
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, people with Parkinson’s experience OFF periods, during which symptoms re-emerge. OFF periods increase in frequency and severity during the course of the disease.
In the United States, approximately 350,000 people with Parkinson’s experience OFF periods. OFF periods are inadequately addressed by available therapies and are considered one of the greatest unmet medical needs facing people with Parkinson's disease.
About Acorda Therapeutics
Founded in 1995, Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of people with neurological disorders.
For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.acorda.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including: the ability to complete the Biotie transaction on a timely basis; the ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the Biotie and Civitas transactions, among other reasons because acquired development programs are generally subject to all the risks inherent in the drug development process and our knowledge of the risks specifically relevant to acquired programs generally improves over time; the ability to successfully integrate Biotie’s operations and Civitas’ operations, respectively, into our operations; we may need to raise additional funds to finance our expanded operations and may not be able to do so on acceptable terms; our ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg in the U.S.; third party payers (including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of Ampyra or our other products at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra or from our other research and development programs, including CVT-301 or any other acquired or in-licensed programs; we may not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully market CVT-301, any other products under development, or the products that we will acquire when we complete the Biotie transaction; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of or to successfully market Fampyra outside of the U.S. and our dependence on our collaborator Biogen in connection therewith; competition; failure to protect our intellectual property, to defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain third party intellectual property licenses needed for the commercialization of our products; and failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in adverse action by regulatory agencies.
These and other risks are described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in our forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements made in this presentation are made only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this presentation.
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