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MEDITRACK
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NEWMED Corporation Launches the DOSER in Canada, New Device for AsthmaticsDOSER Integral Part of the New Shoppers Drug Mart HEALTHWATCH Asthma Management ProgramNewton, MA - June 18, 1997- NEWMED Corporation, headquartered in Newton, MA, today announced the Canadian launch of the DOSER, the first and only consumer product to indicate the amount of medication remaining in Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) and to reliably track medication usage from MDIs. NEWMED is represented in the Canadian retail pharmacy market by Retail Solutions, Inc. The lightweight DOSER attaches easily to the top of an MDI, and solves the problems faced by millions of people with asthma and other inhaler users: knowing how much medication remains in an inhaler at any given time, and remembering the number of "puffs" taken. The DOSER has received Health Protection Branch (HPB) clearance and is available through many of the country's leading retailers. It is also part of the new Shoppers Drug Mart HEALTHWATCH Asthma Management Program. The DOSER, tracks the use of medication taken from a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) as the inhaler is used normally. With its self contained microcomputer, the DOSER counts and displays the number of inhalations remaining in the MDI, and displays the number of inhalations taken in the current day. It also stores the number of inhalations taken in each of the last 30 days in its memory, and alerts the user when the MDI is nearly empty. With its self-contained battery, the DOSER lasts a full year. The DOSER's suggested retail price is $39.95, or less than $3.50 per month. Because medications in MDIs are delivered through opaque aluminum canisters, knowing the amount of medication remaining in the canister has always been a challenge for the millions of inhaler users. Not knowing the amount of medication in an inhaler creates a risk of being caught without medication when it is needed most. Remembering how many "puffs" of medication have been taken at any given time is often difficult and may lead to a lack of adherence to a physician's instructions. The most widely prescribed products for respiratory illness are delivered through MDIs. According to Steven Smith, Category Manager, Pharmaceuticals, Shoppers Drug Mart, "We launched the HEALTHWATCH Asthma Management Program on June 2, 1997. The program's goals are to educate consumers about: asthma; the role of medications; and the proper utilization of devices for improved drug delivery. We are very excited about including the DOSER , an innovative product, as part of our new asthma program. We believe the DOSER will enable Shoppers Drug Mart customers to better manage their own respiratory care and enable our HEALTHWATCH Pharmacists to better counsel people who use inhalers." The new asthma program was developed over the last year, and is based on the summary of recommendations from the 1996 Canadian Asthma Consensus Conference. James G. Bath, Vice President of Business Development, and founder, NEWMED Corporation, said, "We are very pleased that the DOSER has been chosen as part of Shoppers Drug Mart HEALTHWATCH National Asthma Management Program. When linked with programs of this type, the DOSER is an important part of the information flow. People with asthma and respiratory illnesses can be at risk of exacerbating their condition, if not well informed or educated about their affliction and proper treatment. Accurate information about medication usage can be easily accessed from the DOSER by: parents of asthmatics; inhaler users; physicians; pharmacists and other health care providers such as respiratory therapists and nurses." The DOSER's benefits are: · Those with respiratory conditions can avoid being caught without medication · Parents can better monitor children's medication usage · Enables easy monitoring for better self care. Makes following doctors' instructions easier, especially for those on daily medication · Healthcare professionals are able to accurately monitor their patients' compliance with preventative medication, and the over or under use of reliever medication. Millions of people are affected by respiratory conditions. In Canada there are 1.7 million people with asthma and about 500,000 people who suffer from chronic respiratory conditions. Many are afflicted with more than one respiratory condition. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It is the leading cause of hospital admissions, visits to the emergency room and school absences among children. Asthma causes over 500 deaths per year and annual costs of treating the disease are over 600 million dollars. Shoppers Drug Mart which operates 820 stores throughout Canada will provide a personalized asthma plan to all people with asthma. The plan will outline the role of medications as well as other aspects of asthma, such as environmental triggers. Shoppers Drug Mart is committed to the continued improvement of its HEALTHWATCH Pharmacists' professional capabilities and to providing enhanced disease management counseling for their patients. NEWMED Corporation, headquartered in Newton, MA, is a medical device Company specializing in products that help people manage their own respiratory health. NEWMED's mission is to enable people with a respiratory condition, parents of children with asthma, and healthcare professionals to better manage treatment. The Company was founded in 1993. To find out where you can purchase the DOSER in your area, please call Retail Solutions, Inc. at, 1-905-727-0227 or call Shoppers Drug Mart customer assistance line at 1-800-363-1020. |
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