Patient assistance available for Simponi

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

     I am posting this message to the group with 's permission. We all

know how difficult finances are when you have 1 (or more) chronic illnesses.

Below is information for patient assistance (whether you have insurance or not)

for current & new patients on Simponi, a monthly TNF inhibitor shot that was

just FDA approved this year. It is made by Centocor Ortho Biotech, a subsidiary

of & and also the maker of Remicade (which I take). I hope this

is helpful.

 

Take care,

Steph in VA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You've received this message because you've requested new product information

from SIMPONI™ or Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. If you have trouble seeing

this email, click here.

If you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with moderate to severe

rheumatoid arthritis (RA), active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or active

ankylosing spondylitis (AS), you've probably heard about once-a-month

SIMPONIâ„¢. But did you know that you may be eligible for a full year of

financial assistance?

Cost Support for SIMPONIâ„¢.

SimponiOneSM can help evaluate your insurance benefits, coverage, or

out-of-pocket support, and provide counseling regarding your eligibility for

SimponiOneSM Cost Support or help identify other sources of financial support.

*Subject to a $4,800 maximum program benefit, 12 months after activation, or 12

injections, whichever comes first.

Please click here for important eligibility information.

 

If you're eligible for patient cost support, you'll receive instant savings on

your private insurance co-pay, deductible, and co-insurance medication costs

for SIMPONI™.

If you do not have health coverage, or you do not have enough coverage for your

treatment, SimponiOneSM can refer you to a patient assistance program

(www.access2wellness.com) or help identify other sources of funding.

To learn more about

SimponiOneSM Cost Support:

Call 877-MY SIMPONI (877-697-4676).

Monday - Friday,

8:00 AM – 8:00 PM E.T.

Then talk to your doctor to see if SIMPONIâ„¢ is right for you.

Visit www.simponi.com

for more information.

SIMPONIâ„¢ is the first monthly self-injectable anti-TNF therapy approved to

treat adults with:

moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the medicine methotrexate

active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) alone or with the medicine methotrexate

active ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

Just one dose monthly, injected under the skin, works to relieve the signs and

symptoms of RA, PsA, and AS. Results may not be the same for everyone.

Please read this Important Safety Information about SIMPONIâ„¢

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

SIMPONIâ„¢ (golimumab) is a prescription medicine. SIMPONIâ„¢ can lower your

ability to fight infections. There are reports of serious infections caused by

bacteria, fungi, or viruses that have spread throughout the body, including

tuberculosis (TB) and histoplasmosis. Some of these infections have been fatal.

Your doctor will test you for TB before starting SIMPONIâ„¢ and will monitor you

for signs of TB during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have been in close

contact with people with TB. Tell your doctor if you have been in a region (such

as the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys and the Southwest) where certain

fungal infections like histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis are common.

You should not start SIMPONIâ„¢ if you have any kind of infection. Tell your

doctor if you are prone to or have a history of infections or have diabetes. You

should also tell your doctor if you are currently being treated for an infection

or if you have or develop any signs of an infection such as:

fever, sweat, or chills

muscle aches

cough

shortness of breath

blood in phlegm

weight loss

warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body

diarrhea or stomach pain

burning when you urinate or urinate more than normal

feel very tired

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take or if you are scheduled to

or recently received a vaccine.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus has been reported in patients who are carriers

of this virus and are taking TNF-blocker medicines, such as SIMPONIâ„¢. Some of

these cases have been fatal. Your doctor may do blood tests before and after you

start treatment with SIMPONIâ„¢. Tell your doctor if you know or think you may

be a carrier of hepatitis B virus or if you experience signs of hepatitis B

infection, such as:

feel very tired

skin or eyes look yellow

little or no appetite

vomiting

muscle aches

dark urine

clay-colored bowel movements

fevers

chills

stomach discomfort

skin rash

If you take SIMPONIâ„¢ or other TNF blockers, your risk for developing lymphoma

or other cancers may increase. You should tell your doctor if you have had or

develop lymphoma or other cancers.

Heart failure can occur or get worse in people who use TNF blockers like

SIMPONIâ„¢. Your doctor will closely monitor you if you have heart failure. Tell

your doctor right away if you get new or worsening symptoms of heart failure

like shortness of breath or swelling of your lower legs or feet.

Rarely, people using TNF blockers can have nervous system problems such as

multiple sclerosis. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms like vision

changes, weakness in your arms or legs, or numbness or tingling in any part of

your body.

Liver problems can happen in people using TNF blockers. Contact your doctor

immediately if you develop symptoms such as feeling very tired, skin or eyes

look yellow, poor appetite or vomiting, or pain on the right side of your

stomach.

Low blood counts have been seen with people using TNF blockers. If this occurs,

your body may not make enough blood cells to help fight infections or help stop

bleeding. Your doctor will check your blood counts before and during treatment.

Tell your doctor if you have signs such as fever, bruising, bleeding easily, or

paleness.

Rarely, people using TNF blockers have developed lupus-like symptoms. Tell your

doctor if you have any symptoms such as a rash on your cheeks or other parts of

the body, sensitivity to the sun, new joint or muscle pain, becoming very tired,

chest pain or shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles, and/or legs.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to rubber or latex. The needle cover

contains dry natural rubber.

Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction while taking

SIMPONIâ„¢ such as hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, chest pain.

Common side effects of SIMPONIâ„¢ include: upper respiratory tract infection,

nausea, abnormal liver tests, redness at site of injection, high blood pressure,

bronchitis, dizziness, sinus infection, flu, runny nose, fever, cold sores,

numbness or tingling.

Please read the Medication Guide for SIMPONIâ„¢ and discuss any questions you

have with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the

FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please do not reply to this message. For further assistance, please choose one

of the following options:

To remove your name from the e-mail list for SIMPONIâ„¢, please click here to

unsubscribe or please call 877-MY SIMPONI (877-697-4676).

For questions about SIMPONIâ„¢ or SimponiOneSM Patient Support Services, please

contact 877-MY SIMPONI (877-697-4676).

Click here to read the Full Prescribing Information.

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Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. 800 Ridgeview Drive, Horsham, PA 19044

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7/09

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