ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical
company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and caregivers to
better protect themselves from allergic reactions that could lead
to anaphylaxis, announced today that Cigna Healthcare, Navitus
Health Systems and OptumRx, through their Group Purchasing
Organization (GPO) Emisar, have added
neffy®
(epinephrine nasal spray) to their National Formularies.
“Millions of patients nationwide now have improved access to
neffy through their commercial insurance, thanks
to coverage from leading pharmaceutical benefit managers and health
plans. neffy will also be available at the lowest
branded copay for patients insured by OptumRx, Cigna Healthcare,
and Navitus Health Systems - without the need for prior
authorizations or restrictive step therapies,” said Richard
Lowenthal, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of ARS Pharma. “As a
result, more patients will qualify for the low copay price of $25
for neffy, when they apply the ARS Pharma copay
assistance, and healthcare providers can prescribe it without the
need for additional paperwork.”
“This announcement also underscores the critical demand for a
nasal spray epinephrine option within the severe allergy community
and we remain committed to ensuring continued access for as many
patients and caregivers as possible. While Emisar represents both
OptumRx and UnitedHealthcare as their GPO at this time only OptumRx
has agreed to the Emisar terms. ARS Pharma is working closely with
UnitedHealthcare, as one of the country’s largest healthcare
providers, to add neffy to their formulary as soon
as possible,” said Lowenthal.
The addition of neffy to these formularies
improves coverage for the approximately 20 million people who have
been diagnosed and treated for the more severe Type I allergic
reactions that may lead to anaphylaxis and need epinephrine therapy
to protect themselves in their daily lives. To assist patients in
navigating coverage and affordability challenges, ARS Pharma offers
a number of programs for patients and caregivers. For more
information, visit www.neffy.com/savings.
neffy 2 mg is for the treatment of Type I
Allergic Reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adults and children
who weigh ≥30 kg (66 lbs.). It is the first and only FDA-approved
epinephrine nasal spray that provides a needle-free alternative to
traditional injectable epinephrine. It’s simple and intuitive
design enables rapid administration, helping patients and
caregivers act quickly and confidently, and the small size is easy
to carry. Additionally, neffy has a shelf-life of
30 months and temperature exclusions up to 122 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The supplemental NDA
for neffy 1 mg, for
children over four years of age who weigh 15 to 30 kg, has a
Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of March
6, 2025. Based on review timelines and subject to approval, product
availability of neffy 1
mg is expected by the end of May 2025. ARS Pharma
anticipates that by the epinephrine prescription renewal period,
which occurs over the summer for many children in the United
States, that school age children who meet the weight and age
criteria will have access to neffy.
About
neffy®
neffy is an intranasal epinephrine product for
patients with Type I allergic reactions including food,
medications, and insect bites that could lead to life-threatening
anaphylaxis.
INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR
neffy (epinephrine nasal spray)
INDICATION
neffy 2 mg is indicated for emergency treatment
of Type I allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adult and
pediatric patients who weigh 30 kg or greater.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
It is recommended that patients are prescribed and have
immediate access to two neffy nasal sprays at all
times. In the absence of clinical improvement or if symptoms worsen
after initial treatment, administer a second dose of
neffy in the same nostril with a new nasal spray
starting 5 minutes after the first dose.
neffy is for use in the nose only.
Advise patients when to seek emergency medical assistance for
close monitoring of the anaphylactic episode and in the event
further treatment is required.
Absorption of neffy may be affected by
underlying structural or anatomical nasal conditions.
Administer with caution to patients who have heart disease;
epinephrine may aggravate angina pectoris or produce ventricular
arrhythmias. Arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular fibrillation,
have been reported, particularly in patients with underlying
cardiac disease or taking cardiac glycosides, diuretics, or
anti-arrhythmics.
The presence of a sulfite in neffy should not
deter use.
neffy may alter nasal mucosa for up to 2 weeks
after administration and increase systemic absorption of nasal
products, including neffy.
Patients with certain medical conditions or who take certain
medications for allergies, depression, thyroid disorders, diabetes,
and hypertension, may be at greater risk for adverse reactions.
Epinephrine can temporarily exacerbate the underlying condition
or increase symptoms in patients with the following:
hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, renal impairment.
Epinephrine should be administered with caution in patients with
these conditions, including elderly patients and pregnant
women.
Adverse reactions to neffy may include throat
irritation, intranasal paresthesia, headache, nasal discomfort,
feeling jittery, paresthesia, fatigue, tremor, rhinorrhea, nasal
pruritus, sneezing, abdominal pain, gingival pain, hypoesthesia
oral, nasal congestion, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
These are not all of the possible side effects of
neffy. To report suspected adverse reactions,
contact ARS Pharmaceuticals Operations, Inc. at 1-877-MY-NEFFY
(877-696-3339) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
For additional information on neffy, please see
Full Prescribing Information at www.neffy.com.
About Type I Allergic Reactions Including
Anaphylaxis
Type I allergic reactions are serious and potentially
life-threatening events that can occur within minutes of exposure
to an allergen and require immediate treatment with epinephrine,
the only FDA-approved medication for these reactions. While
epinephrine auto-injectors have been shown to be highly effective,
there are well published limitations that result in many patients
and caregivers delaying or not administering treatment in an
emergency situation. These limitations include fear of the needle,
lack of portability, needle-related safety concerns, lack of
reliability, and complexity of the devices. There are approximately
40 million people in the United States who experience Type I
allergic reactions. Of this group, over the last three years,
approximately 20 million people have been diagnosed and treated for
severe Type I allergic reactions that may lead to anaphylaxis, but
(in 2023, for example) only 3.2 million filled their active
epinephrine auto-injector prescription, and of those, only half
consistently carry their prescribed auto-injector. Even if patients
or caregivers carry an auto-injector, more than half either delay
or do not administer the device when needed in an emergency.
About ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
ARS Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to
empowering at-risk patients and their caregivers to better protect
patients from allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis.
The Company is
commercializing neffy® 2
mg (trade
name EURneffy® in
the EU) (previously referred to as ARS-1), an epinephrine nasal
spray indicated in the U.S. for emergency treatment of Type I
allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adult and pediatric
patients who weigh 30 kg or greater, and in the EU for emergency
treatment of allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) due to insect stings
or bites, foods, medicinal products, and other allergens as well as
idiopathic or exercise induced anaphylaxis in adults and children
who weigh 30 kg or greater. For more information,
visit www.ars-pharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this
press release that are not purely historical in nature are
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include,
but are not limited to: the expected impact from the inclusion of
neffy on OptumRx, Cigna Healthcare and Navitus
Health Systems’ National Formularies; ARS Pharmaceuticals’
expectation that other payors, such as UnitedHealthcare, will agree
to terms to provide access to neffy and
the timing by which they will provide such access, the critical
demand for a nasal spray epinephrine option, the expectation
that neffy will save lives; the
effectiveness of neffy; the expected timing
for product availability of neffy 1
mg; and other statements that are not historical fact.
Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties,
actual results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as
“anticipate,” “expects,” “if,” “may,” “potential,” “on track to,”
“plans,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon ARS Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations
and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to
be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which
include, without limitation: potential safety and other
complications from neffy; ARS Pharmaceuticals’
reliance on its licensing partners; the ability to maintain
regulatory approval for neffy in its currently
approved indication and to obtain and maintain regulatory approval
for neffy for additional indications; the
labelling for neffy in any future
indication or patient population, if approved; the scope, progress
and expansion of developing and
commercializing neffy; the potential for
governments and payors to delay, limit or deny coverage
for neffy; the size and growth of the market
therefor and the rate and degree of market acceptance thereof
vis-à-vis intramuscular injectable products; ARS Pharmaceuticals’
ability to protect its intellectual property position; and the
impact of government laws and regulations. Additional risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to
differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking
statements are included under the caption “Risk Factors” in ARS
Pharmaceuticals’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 13, 2024. These
documents can also be accessed on ARS Pharmaceuticals’ website
at www.ars-pharma.com by clicking on the link “Financials
& Filings” under the “Investors & Media” tab.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release
are made only as of the date hereof. ARS Pharmaceuticals assumes no
obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements, except as required by law. For more information,
visit www.ars-pharma.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
ARS Investor Contact:Justin ChakmaARS
Pharmaceuticalsjustinc@ars-pharma.com
ARS Media Contact:Christy CurranSam Brown
Inc.615.414.8668christycurran@sambrown.com
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