Ferring Pharmaceuticals and North Zealand University Hospital announce eHealth collaboration aimed at transforming IBD patient care

Saint-Prex, Switzerland – 19 May 2016 –

To mark World IBD Day 2016, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and North Zealand University Hospital in Copenhagen today announced a multi-year collaboration aimed at transforming the way in which patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) manage their condition and receive medical care.

The new programme, fully funded by Ferring Pharmaceuticals and governed by North Zealand University Hospital, is based on an innovative eHealth platform that empowers patients to self-monitor and self-treat by enabling them to screen for disease activity, act proactively on their symptoms and increase adherence to therapy.

“In my clinical practice, IBD patients who are monitored by an eHealth programme have a reduced time-to-remission,” said Professor Pia Munkholm. “This effect is linked to the patient’s ability to more tightly monitor their condition on the web than in a standard care setting, giving users of the eHealth programme the opportunity to detect a relapse sooner.”

During the partnership, North Zealand University Hospital will also work to evaluate the role of the microbiome in patient responses to different treatments in an eHealth setting. North Zealand University Hospital has a deep understanding of the human microbiome and Ferring Pharmaceuticals, as a leader in the area of gastroenterology, shares a mutual interest in expanding research in this area.

“Ferring and North Zealand University Hospital both fully embrace the concept of eHealth and its positive effects in relation to patient empowerment,” said Per Falk, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Ferring. “This partnership will assure continued focus on eHealth and generate personalised treatment for IBD patients.”

– ENDS –

About Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis which together affect over 3.6 million persons worldwide. IBD is characterized by an aberrant mucosal immune response observed locally in GIT leading to impaired epithelial barrier function and tissue destruction. A combination of factors such as immune response, gut bacteria, environmental triggers and genes are all thought to contribute to the disease – and a treatment plan that includes both regular medical treatment and the right diet is therefore important to allow the patient to manage symptoms and live a normal life. Over the past decade IBD have emerged as one of the most studied human conditions linked to the gut microbiota.

About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) on the other hand has no organic course, however, it has been linked to dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in many studies. IBS is the most common GI disorder affecting 10-15% in the industrialized world. Abdominal pain and altered bowel habits are the most bothersome symptoms for many IBS patients which greatly affect their quality of life. Treatment of IBS patients rely so far on symptom reduction. Many IBS patients have reported their symptoms to be triggered by meals or specific food – foods are also one of the most important environmental factors impacting the microbial composition in the gut.

About eHealth

eHealth (also known as Telemedicine) is relatively recent term for healthcare practice that can encompass the use of telecommunication and information technologies to provide physical and psychological diagnosis and treatments at a distance, including telemonitoring of patients functions.

About Microbiota

The microbiota can be considered a “new organ” which actually constitutes 2 kg of our body and an estimated 80 % of its components has not yet been cultivated.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.

To learn more about Ferring or its products please visit www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Helen Gallagher
+41 58 301 00 51
helen.gallagher@ferring.com

Nicole Barraud-Estoppey
+41 58 301 00 53
nicole.barraud-estoppey@ferring.com

North Zealand University Hospital

Pia Munkholm
Professor
+4540858494
pia_munkholm@mail.dk

Ferring Pharmaceuticals announces approval for NOCDURNA®, a new therapeutic option for the treatment of adults waking multiple times to urinate at night

• Ferring Pharmaceuticals has successfully finalised a Decentralised Procedure (DCP) in the EU leading to the approval of NOCDURNA® (desmopressin) for the symptomatic treatment of nocturia due to idiopathic nocturnal polyuria in adults

• National Marketing Authorisations are expected in the majority of EU countries in the following months

• Nocturia is the frequent need to pass urine during the night¹ and the most common cause of sleep disturbance²

• The night-time overproduction of urine, nocturnal polyuria, is responsible for nocturia in up to 88% of cases^3,4

Saint-Prex, Switzerland – 3 May 2016 –

Ferring Pharmaceuticals today announced that NOCDURNA® (desmopressin) has received approval in the EU for the symptomatic treatment of nocturia due to idiopathic nocturnal polyuria in adults.

Nocturia, the need to awaken at night to pass urine, is a complex medical condition with various contributing factors⁵. The night-time overproduction of urine, nocturnal polyuria, is responsible for nocturia in up to 88% of cases^5,6.

Specifically developed to reduce the amount of urine the kidneys produce, NOCDURNA® once-daily lyophilisate tablets are administered sublingually (without the need for water) in gender specific low doses, tailored specifically for men (50 mcg) and women (25 mcg).

NOCDURNA® was reviewed via the Decentralised Procedure (DCP) with the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA) acting as the Reference Member State (RMS). The majority of the EU countries were involved as concerned member states and they will have 30 days to issue a national approval. Product labelling has been agreed by all countries participating in the procedure who will issue their own local Marketing Authorisations. NOCDURNA® is currently available in Canada for the treatment of nocturia.

Commenting on the authorisation, Pascal Danglas, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, said, “We are delighted that NOCDURNA® received approval in the EU. The approval is a significant milestone in making this medicine also available to elderly patients diagnosed with nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria, a large patient population who previously had limited treatment options. The long and thorough development process has enabled us to provide gender-specific dosages, enabling a personalised medicine approach for men and women. Ferring Pharmaceuticals remains committed to improving the diagnosis and treatment of nocturia and to ensuring that patients of all ages continue to benefit from these treatment advances.”

The Swedish approval is based on two Phase III studies (CS40 and CS41) with CS40 investigating the efficacy and safety of 25 mcg in adult women and CS41 investigating the efficacy and safety of 50 mcg in adult men. Both trials demonstrated that the treatment significantly reduced the average number of night time urinations compared to the placebo groups^7,8, with nearly doubling the probability of patients reducing the number of night-time urinations by more than 33 percent^8,9.

The drug was well tolerated. The most common adverse events were dry mouth, nausea, fatigue, hyponatraemia and headache which occurred at ≥5%^8,9. No incidences of hyponatraemia occurred in CS40⁸ and only two incidences of hyponatraemia occurred in patients in CS41 who took the 50 mcg dose (≤1%)⁹.

“The broken night’s sleep caused by nocturia can have a negative impact on quality of life, daily activity and work productivity^9,10,” said Jens Peter Nørgaard, MD, Executive Director and Professor Global Medical Affairs Urology at Ferring Pharmaceuticals. “Longer term effects are being studied, but poor quality sleep has been associated with significant health problems including obesity, diabetes, weakened immune systems and even some cancers^11,12,13, Therefore we are pleased with the approval of a treatment that can significantly decrease the burden experienced by nocturia patients.”

Oral desmopressin is currently registered and widely available outside the US for the treatment of nocturia associated with nocturnal polyuria in higher doses, but with an upper age limitation of 65 years. Although trials with NOCDURNA® have documented a safety benefit of lower, gender specific doses, sodium monitoring in adults over 65 years of age is warranted.

– ENDS –

About NOCDURNA®

NOCDURNA® Oral lyophilisate has as an active substance desmopressin, a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone that promotes water absorption by the kidneys. Ferring Pharmaceuticals originally developed desmopressin more than 40 years ago. Desmopressin in NOCDURNA® works by mimicking the effect of vasopressin and binds to specific receptors in the kidneys. This action can prevent the kidneys from filtering excessive amounts of water out of the blood as they make urine, reducing the volume of urine and night-time urination. However, desmopressin, unlike vasopressin, does not affect blood pressure.

Desmopressin has been approved in both adults and children and in multiple strengths, dosage forms and routes of administration worldwide for more than 40 years for several medical conditions, such as for central diabetes insipidus and for primary nocturnal enuresis (involuntary discharge of urine at night by children beyond the age of five years). Ferring Pharmaceuticals has already received marketing authorisation in 80 countries for desmopressin orally disintegrating tablets indicated for the symptomatic treatment of nocturia associated with nocturnal polyuria in adults.

About Nocturia

Nocturia is the need to awaken at night to void. Many factors can contribute to nocturia, such as an underlying medical condition. However, some people experience nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria, which means a person makes too much urine at night, although their total 24-hour production may remain normal. The broken night’s sleep caused by nocturia also leads to many short and long term health effects^12,13,14. In the short term lack of sleep can have a negative impact on our attention span, memory recall and learning¹⁵. Longer term effects are being studied, but poor quality sleep or sleep deprivation has been associated with significant health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, weakened immune systems and even some cancers^12,13,14. Lack of sleep is also related to many psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and psychosis^15,16.

Nocturia rates range from 29 to 59 percent in men older than 70 and 28 to 62 percent in women older than 70¹⁷. Between 63 to 75 percent of patients with nocturia believe it is troublesome¹⁸. Nocturia is a serious medical condition that can cause poor sleep quality, which leads to feeling tired, reduced quality of life and decreased productivity, according to the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society^19,20. Studies have related nocturia to increased rates of death, risks of falls, night sweats and leg cramps and tingling¹⁹.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology-oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. Ferring Pharmaceuticals has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.

To learn more about Ferring Pharmaceuticals or its products please visit www.ferring.com

For more information, please contact

Helen Gallagher
+41 58 301 00 51
helen.gallagher@ferring.com

Nicole Barraud-Estoppey
+41 58 301 00 53
nicole.barraud-estoppey@ferring.com

References

1. Bladder and Bowel Foundation website. Bladder. Bladder Conditions and Symptoms. Nocturia page. [Last accessed April 2016] Available from: https://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/nocturia/
2. Benefield LE. Facilitating Aging in Place: Safe, Sound, and Secure, An Issue of Nursing Clinics. 2014
3. Weiss JP, van Kerrebroeck PEV, Klein BM, Nørgaard JP. Excessive nocturnal urine production is a major contributing factor to the etiology of nocturia. J Urol 2011; 186: 1358-63
4. van Kerrebroeck P, Hashim H, Holm-Larsen T, Robinson D, Stanley N. Thinking beyond the bladder: antidiuretic treatment of nocturia. Int J Clin Pract 2010; 64: 807-16
5. Park, H.K. and Kim, H.G., Current Evaluation and Treatment of Nocturia, Korean J Urol. Aug 2013; 54(8): 492–498. page 492. Published online Aug 7, 2013. doi: 10.4111/kju.2013.54.8.492 PMCID: PMC3742899. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3742899/
6. Weiss JP, van Kerrebroeck PEV, Klein BM, Nørgaard JP. Excessive nocturnal urine production is a major contributing factor to the etiology of nocturia. J Urol 2011; 186: 1358-63
7. Sand PK, Dmochowski RR, Reddy J, van der Meulen EA. Efficacy and safety of low-dose desmopressin orally disintegrating tablet in women with nocturia: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. J Urol 2013;190(3):958-964. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.037.
8. Weiss JP, Herschorn S, Albei CD, van der Meulen EA. Efficacy and safety of low-dose desmopressin orally disintegrating tablet in men with nocturia: results of a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. J Urol 2013;190(3):965-972. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.12.112.
9. Bliwise DL, Holm-Larsen T, Goble S, Nørgaard JP. Short time to first void is associated with lower whole-night sleep quality in nocturia patients. J Clin Sleep Med 2015; 11: 53-5
10. Kobelt G, Borgström F, Mattiasson A. Productivity, vitality and utility in a group of healthy professionally active individuals with nocturia. BJU Int 2003; 91: 190-5
11. Taheri S, Lin L, Austin D et al. Short sleep duration is associated with elevated ghrelin, reduced leptin and increased body mass index. PLoS Med 2004; 1(3): e62
12. Gottlieb DJ, Punjabi NM, Newman AB et al. Association of sleep time with diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. Arch Intern Med 2005; 165(8): 863-7
13. Meier-Ewert HK et al. Effect of Sleep Loss on C-Reactive Protein, an Inflammatory Marker of Cardiovascular Risk. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2004; 43(4). doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2003.07.050
14. Orzel-Gryglewska, J. Consequenses of Sleep Deprivation. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 2010; 23(1): 95-114. doi:10.2478/v10001-010-0004-9
15. Neckelmann D, Mykletun A, Dahl, AA. Chronic Insomnia as a Risk Factor for Developing Anxiety and Depression. Sleep 2007, 30(7): 873-880
16. Petrovsky N et al. Sleep Deprivation Disrupts Prepulse Inhibition and Induces Psychosis-Like Symptoms in Healthy Humans. The Journal of Neuroscience 2014; July, 34(27)-913409140
17. Bosch JL1, Weiss JP. The prevalence and causes of nocturia. J Urol. 2010 Aug;184(2):440-6. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2010.04.011. Epub 2010 Jun 17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20620395/
18. Laureanno, P., Ellsworth, P., Demystifying Nocturia: Identifying the Cause and Tailoring the Treatment. Urol Nurs. 2010;30(5):276-287. page 2. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/731730_5, page 5
19. Message Grid prepared by 3D, Oct. 7 2014, page 13
20. Bliwise DL , Rosen RC, Baum N. Impact of nocturia on sleep and quality of life: a brief, selected review for the
    International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) nocturia think tank. Neurourol Urodyn. 2014 Apr;33 Suppl 1:S15-8. doi: 10.1002/nau.22585. Abstract.

Newly created Swiss Polar Institute to launch a major Antarctic expedition

The Swiss Polar Institute will study the Earth’s poles and extreme environments. Its first project is ambitious: an international scientific expedition, comprising 55 researchers from 30 countries working on 22 research projects, will circumnavigate Antarctica.

Bern, Switzerland – 18 April 2016 –

The future of the Earth’s poles is critical. In the coming decades, major international negotiations will focus on the polar regions, which are bearing the brunt of global warming. Switzerland, intent on having its voice heard and making a contribution in a field in which it already has solid expertise, today announced the creation of the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI). This new interdisciplinary center will be devoted to researching the Earth’s poles and other extreme environments. The SPI, based at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is a consortium of Swiss universities – EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), ETH Zurich and the University of Bern – and was cofounded with Editions Paulsen. Officially supported by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the SPI is a Swiss initiative with a decidedly international mission.

Polar explorer Frederik Paulsen is proud to be involved in this initiative: “The Swiss Polar Institute will help drive research in extreme environments, contribute to progress in the field of polar science and promote cooperation among public and academic institutions, industry and private-sector partners.”

To mark its launch, the SPI is organizing a major project: the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE) will be the first scientific expedition to fully sail around the southernmost continent. The purpose of this expedition, with key logistical support from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, will be to measure and quantify the impact of climate change and pollution in the Southern Ocean.

More than 50 researchers

At the end of December 2016, some 50 researchers from around the world will set off for three months onboard the Akademik Treshnikov, a Russian ship dedicated to scientific research. Twenty-two research projects – submitted by teams from Switzerland, the UK, France, Australia, etc. – were selected for the expedition. The projects range from glaciology to climatology, biology and oceanography.

This expedition neatly illustrates the SPI’s mission: the Swiss Polar Institute is designed to be a platform for global experts in polar research to bring their combined knowledge to bear – such as by drawing parallels between polar environments and alpine regions. This is similar to what is being done in the field of space research. “Swiss universities owe their competitiveness to a shrewd approach of competing and cooperating with each other at the same time,” said Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation. “The Swiss Polar Institute is a great example of intelligent cooperation.”

The Institute’s role will also be to assess the state of the Earth’s poles and climate in general, to outline the many challenges we face going forward and to keep the public informed. Its work is bound to have an impact on the development of new technologies for extreme environments. The SPI will be an important asset for Switzerland, which aims to play a key role in international agreements on the future of the polar regions. This includes discussions on the Antarctic Treaty.

The Earth’s climate balance is at stake

The Earth’s poles are fundamental to the planet’s climate balance, and learning more about how they work through research is crucial. The climate, which is regulated by the interaction of atmospheric and oceanic currents, acts like a massive heat engine. This engine is powered by the transfer of heat between polar and tropical regions: currents of icy water deep in the ocean travel from the poles toward the equator, while warm water and air move across the ocean’s surface towards the frigid zones. This complex and fragile mechanism also plays a key role in the carbon cycle, in which the ocean absorbs a significant amount of the CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Human settlement and activities may be concentrated far from the Earth’s poles, but they directly affect polar environments. “The poles are essential for climate balance, but they are also the regions where changes are most apparent: that’s where the largest temperature differences have been recorded,” said Philippe Gillet, vice president of EPFL and a specialist in Earth and planetary science. The 2015-2016 winter was the mildest on record at the North Pole. December and January temperatures there, normally close to -20°C, were above freezing.

Potential discoveries

The 22 projects selected for the expedition cover a spectrum of topics, including the composition of plankton, threatened animal species, the presence of microplastics in the surrounding water, the carbon cycle, microorganisms that flourish in the ocean depths or in ice, and the impact of waves on the coasts.

“The ACE initiative is a unique opportunity,” said Dr. Jean Jouzel, a glaciologist and climatologist on the ACE panel of scientists. “Bringing together all these projects and diverse fields of study in an expedition around Antarctica, where they will collect a huge amount of scientific data, will teach us about the past and help us predict the future of the Southern Ocean. Although isolated, this part of the globe bears the brunt of human activity and climate change. This is a key region that is vital for the carbon cycle and the future of the continent of Antarctica. In the coming centuries, it could play a fundamental role in rising sea levels.”

The projects will make use of the most advanced data collection and analysis technologies available. In addition, because they will be run in extreme environments, the projects will provide insight into biochemical compounds and microorganisms that up to now have been studied little if at all. The results could lead to discoveries and new and interesting applications in the fields of biotechnology, medicine and environmental science.

– ENDS –

About the Swiss Polar Institute

The Swiss Polar Institute is a consortium of Swiss universities – EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), ETH Zurich and the University of Bern – and was cofounded with Editions Paulsen. It is devoted to polar research and guided by the following objectives:

Global Challenges

The SPI shall enhance the Swiss scientific, economic and diplomatic contribution to understanding and solving Global Challenges such as climate and environmental changes and management of global resources through cutting-edge science and technology.

Interdisciplinary Science and Technology

The SPI shall bundle Swiss research in polar and other extreme environments (Alpine and Extreme Ecosystems and Landscapes, Lakes, Glaciers and Water Systems, Planets) with cutting edge technological developments such as: space technologies; satellites; remote sensing and data processing; drones; robotics; sensors for environmental monitoring; big-data handling; renewable energy; health monitoring.

Innovative Public Private Partnerships

The SPI shall position Switzerland as a key player, federating stakeholders in the fields of Extreme Environments and Polar Research through scientifically-driven and collaborative global initiatives relying on international innovative public-public and public-private partnerships.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.

To learn more about Ferring please visit www.ferring.com.

Press kit

http://bit.ly/swisspolar

For more information, please contact

Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Helen Gallagher
+41 58 301 00 51
helen.gallagher@ferring.com

Nicole Barraud-Estoppey
+41 58 301 00 53
nicole.barraud-estoppey@ferring.com

EPFL
www.epfl.ch

Philippe Gillet
Vice President for academic affairs
+41 21 693 70 58
philippe.gillet@epfl.ch

Sarah Perrin
Press officer
+41 21 693 21 07
sarah.perrin@epfl.ch

Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
www.wsl.ch

Gottardo Pestalozzi
Communications
+41 44 739 22 40
+41 79 224 20 18
gottardo.pestalozzi@wsl.ch

ETH Zurich
www.ethz.ch

Claudia Naegeli
Media relations officer
+41 44 632 41 41
mediarelations@hk.ethz.ch

University of Bern
www.unibe.ch

Martin G. Täuber
University rector
+41 31 631 82 22
martin.taeuber@rektorat.unibe.ch

Thomas Stocker
Professor of Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute
+41 31 631 44 62
stocker@climate.unibe.ch

Wake up to nocturia: The most common cause of disrupted sleep that could be damaging your health

• Nocturia is the frequent need to pass water during the night¹

• Nocturia is the most common cause of sleep disturbance²

• Up to 80% of people who complain of a disturbed night’s sleep report that nocturia is the main reason they wake in the middle of the night.³

• By not recognising the importance of lost sleep at night due to getting up to go to the toilet, the public may be dismissing the signs of nocturia, and ignoring an important medical symptom.

Saint-Prex, Switzerland – 18 March 2016 –

Today is ‘World Sleep Day’ which was initiated by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) to acknowledge the importance of a good night’s sleep and the impact of sleep on health and quality of life. Sleep problems constitute a global epidemic that threatens health and quality of life for up to 45% of the world’s population⁴.

Despite this widespread issue much of the general public may be ignoring key triggers for disturbed sleep – with nocturia being the most common cause for a broken night’s sleep^v. Nocturia can be caused by an overproduction of urine at night or an overproduction of urine during the daytime and night time, which leads to having to get up in the night to go and empty the bladder⁶.

Antonella Giannantoni, Editor of the Nocturia Resource Centre, an online resource intended for international healthcare professionals to increase awareness and knowledge about all aspects of Nocturia, said “We are very pleased that the importance of the impact that nocturia has on sleep is being recognised on World Sleep Day. Despite research clearly showing that nocturia is the most common cause of sleep disturbance, many people still ignore the obvious when it comes to a broken night’s sleep. It is time for the public to wake up to nocturia.”

This continued disturbance has a significant negative impact on our health in both the long and short term^7,8,9,10 and can also be a symptom of serious health problems such as: diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease¹¹.

Nocturia is not just isolated to a particular demographic: up to 60% of elderly men and women display symptoms of nocturia, but it can affect all ages as 30% of people over the age of 30 make at least two trips to empty their bladder every night¹². By ignoring simple signs such as this, the public are overlooking a problem that will only worsen over time and will continue to have a negative impact on quality of life and health. It is therefore important not to ignore a broken night’s sleep and to visit a doctor if one is having problems with getting up in the night due to the urge to go to the bathroom.

“Nocturia is a serious issue that should not go ignored by the public,” said Philip van Kerrebroeck, Editor of the Nocturia Resource Centre. “It can affect anyone regardless of age or gender but the good news is that it is treatable. We would therefore encourage anyone who is losing sleep over these symptoms to speak to your doctor as soon as possible. There is no need to suffer in silence.”

Don’t settle for a bad night’s sleep and wake up to nocturia!

Could one be ignoring signs of nocturia? Take a look at these common sleep myths below and find out what to pay attention to:

Myth 1: One can “cheat” on the amount of sleep one is getting.

Truth: A common held belief is that one can catch up on any hours missed during the week by sleeping a few extra hours at the weekend.
Research has shown that one long night of sleep after a prolonged period of decreased sleep can restore ones performance back to normal levels. However this effect may last as little as 6 hours after waking up. As the day goes on the person’s reaction times become about 10 times slower than what they were earlier in the day, increasing the risk of accidents and errors¹³.

Myth 2: Insomnia is characterised only by difficulty falling asleep.

Truth: Difficulty falling asleep is one of four symptoms generally associated with insomnia. The others include waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep, frequent awakenings, and waking up feeling unrefreshed. Insomnia can be a symptom of a sleep disorder or other medical or psychological/psychiatric problem, and can often be treated¹⁴.

Myth 3: The older one becomes, the fewer hours of sleep one needs.

Truth: While sleep patterns change as we age, the amount of sleep we need generally does not. Older people may wake more frequently through the night and may actually get less night time sleep, but their sleep need is no less than younger adults. Because they may sleep less during the night, older people tend to sleep more during the day, which can affect their quality of life¹⁵.

Myth 4: Drinking less water throughout the day, will decrease the times one goes to the toilet at night.

Truth: Drinking enough water every day is crucial to avoiding infections and keeping the body hydrated. Drinking fewer diuretics, like coffee or tea, as well as limiting fluid intake before bedtime, will help lessen the urge to go¹⁶.

Myth 5: Going to the bathroom at night isn’t an issue until one has to go more than three times.

Truth: Going to the bathroom once or more a night regularly can be bothersome and is a condition called nocturia¹⁷.

– ENDS –

About Nocturia

Nocturia can be caused by an overproduction of urine at night or an overproduction of urine during the daytime and night time, which leads to having to get up in the night to go to the toilet¹⁸. This is often explained by an abnormal rhythm of the body where large amounts of urine is excreted during sleep.

It can also be caused by external factors such as: excess fluids before bedtime, medications, alcohol, caffeine, or diuretic medications; in rare cases it could also be a symptom of something more serious such as: diabetes, high blood pressure or cardio vascular disease¹⁹.

The broken night’s sleep caused by trips to the bathroom also leads to many short and long term health effects. In the short term lack of sleep can have a negative impact on our attention span, memory recall and learning²⁰. Longer term effects are being studied, but poor quality sleep or sleep deprivation has been associated with significant health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, weakened immune systems and even some cancers^21,22,23. Lack of sleep is also related to many psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and psychosis^24,25.

For more information, please view the following videos, which include more facts and statistics on nocturia.

Nocturia Video

Nocturia Infographics Video

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.

To learn more about Ferring or its products please visit www.ferring.com

World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day is an annual event to raise awareness of sleep disorders and the burden that they place on society. World Sleep Day 2016 will be held on Friday, 18 March 2016.

For more information please visit www.worldsleepday.org.

For more information, please contact

Helen Gallagher
+41 58 301 00 51
helen.gallagher@ferring.com

Nicole Barraud-Estoppey
+41 58 301 00 53
nicole.barraud-estoppey@ferring.com

References

1. Bladder and Bowel Foundation website. Bladder. Bladder Conditions and Symptoms. Nocturia page. [Last accessed March 2016] Available from: https://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/nocturia/
2. Benefield LE. Facilitating Aging in Place: Safe, Sound, and Secure, An Issue of Nursing Clinics. 2014
3. Benefield LE. Facilitating Aging in Place: Safe, Sound, and Secure, An Issue of Nursing Clinics. 2014
4. Wade AG, Zisapel N, Lemoine P. Prolonged-release melatonin for the treatment of insomnia: targeting quality of sleep and morning alertness. Ageing Health 2008; 4 (1): 11-12
5. Benefield LE. Facilitating Aging in Place: Safe, Sound, and Secure, An Issue of Nursing Clinics. 2014
6. National Association for Continence website, Nocturia page. [Last Accessed February 2016] Available from: http://www.nafc.org/nocturia/
7. Orzel-Gryglewska, J. Consequenses of Sleep Deprivation. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 2010; 23(1): 95-114. doi:10.2478/v10001-010-0004-9
8. Taheri S, Lin L, Austin D et al. Short sleep duration is associated with elevated ghrelin, reduced leptin and increased body mass index. PLoS Med 2004; 1(3): e62
9. Gottlieb DJ, Punjabi NM, Newman AB et al. Association of sleep time with diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. Arch Intern Med 2005; 165(8): 863-7
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Ferring Pharmaceuticals opens Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore

The new Ferring Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters focuses on supply chain planning and coordination to support the growth of emerging markets in Asia with central functions. Ferring Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters commits S$10mil over five years for R&D in several therapeutic areas, including female healthcare.

Singapore – 7 March 2016 –

Ferring Pharmaceuticals today announced the inauguration of their new Asia Pacific headquarters at Capital Tower in Singapore. The new headquarters will have strategic oversight and executive management responsibilities over the company’s regional entities and activities in Asia Pacific – a region identified for fast growth and future development and investment by Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

The new Ferring Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters focuses on supply chain planning and coordination to support the growth of emerging markets in Asia with central functions

The new Ferring Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters will facilitate collaboration across various operational disciplines and will see functions such as supply chain planning and coordination, intellectual property management, IT, business development and planning, sales and marketing, regulatory and medical affairs coming together to support the Asia Pacific countries where Ferring operates. The Company aims to establish an agile supply chain with local packaging activities that will support the growth of its Asia Pacific countries. Singapore’s strategic location allows Ferring to respond faster to customers’ needs as customer service and support can be provided in the same time zone now, potentially reducing supply lead time by up to 2 months.

Ferring Asia Pacific will have opportunities for professionals operational in the above fields and will open with around 45 employees. Ferring expects that significantly more than ¾ of these employees will come directly from Singapore

“Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region for the company and this is just the start of an exciting journey of growth to come,” said Michel Pettigrew, COO and President of Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Ferring Group). “Singapore is a leading logistics hub globally and has world-class intellectual property protection. It is also Asia’s fastest-growing bio cluster, presenting strategic partnership opportunities with research institutions, corporate labs and hospitals to develop new medicines and future therapies that can be customised for regional and global markets.”

“Ferring’s vote of confidence in Singapore is testimony to our value as a leading hub with strong connectivity to the region, where companies can drive their business growth from Singapore. We warmly welcome Ferring’s decision to leverage Singapore’s innovation ecosystem to develop brands and products for markets and customers in Asia-Pacific and beyond”, said Ms. Ho Weng Si, Deputy Director of Biomedical Sciences, Singapore Economic Development Board.

Ferring Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters commits S$10mil over five years for R&D in several therapeutic areas, including female healthcare

Ferring is keen to establish partnerships with hospitals, research institutions and universities to conduct R&D in the company’s prioritised disease areas and those of relevance to the Asia Pacific markets. Ferring is a world leader in novel peptide-based drugs and biotechnology derived medicines, such as recombinant proteins and other biologics.

“Ferring aspires to progress in our prioritised disease areas including infertility, obstetrics, gastroenterology and urology, by focusing our resources on the most productive projects delivering appropriate solutions to patients. Our desire is to get closer to our markets to better meet the needs of patients in these geographies,” said Alex Chang, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, Ferring Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters.

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.

To learn more about Ferring or its products please visit www.ferring.com.

For more information, please contact

Media contact:
Rae Chew
HP: 9823 7722
Email: Rae.Chew@pr-rae.com

Healthcare Supply Chain Academy (HSCA) program launched by International Institute for the Management of Logistics (IML) in collaboration with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Supply Chain Operations SA

Lausanne, Switzerland – 24 February 2016 –

In collaboration with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Supply Chain Operations SA, the International Institute for the Management of Logistics (IML) in Lausanne, part of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), today announced the launch of the Healthcare Supply Chain Academy (HSCA) program.

This eleven-­week supply chain management program will provide a unique opportunity for life science professionals to sharpen their supply chain knowledge and create immediate value to their employers. The program is initially cofinanced by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck and
IML. It is designed for highly experienced supply chain practitioners, however the blended training sessions will also benefit industry specific experts in other fields, such as Marketing, Regulatory, Quality/Compliance and/or Finance, looking to develop their understanding of supply chain management.

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive an official Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Diploma from the EPFL.

The intensive program is composed of three different modules:

Module 0: Six weeks of innovative remote supply chain learning (e-­training, collaborative simulation tool and readings) based on academic and practical work.

Modules 1, 2 & 3: One week of intensive on-­site classes and case studies at IML/EPFL in Lausanne.

Module 4: Four weeks work on a supply chain business project defined by the student’s company.

The HSCA will be organized in small classes to maximize student interactions with teachers and allow tailored coaching by Faculty members, creating opportunities for “supply chainers” to enhance their knowledge, managerial capabilities and network with more than 900 IML graduates from over 76 countries.

The idea was initiated from the industry four months ago and a team composed of two main local biopharma players (Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Merck), supply chain professionals and academics worked together and under the umbrella of the IML. The HSCA concept was born.

Professor Philippe Wieser, Director at IML, said: “IML brings 25 years of supply chain research, education and expertise to the booming healthcare sector around lake Geneva. The HSCA has been initiated and supported by global industry leaders Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Supply Chain Operations SA. I am delighted by such collaboration between
academics and business private sector professionals and excited to run the first sessions of such a smart and full-­bodied academy in June and in October 2016.”

For more information about the program, visit: http:hsca.epfl.ch

Ends

About Institute for the Management of Logistics

IML (International Institute for the Management of Logistics) was created in 1990 by 2 universities, EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) and ENPC (Ecole des Ponts ParisTech), in collaboration with a French professional association AFT-­IFTIM and the support, today, of more than 40 companies and 25 academic members or international organisations.
In 1993 we have organized the first Executive Course in Lausanne. In 1994 the first course in Paris, and since 1995 we organize 2 sessions per year, one in Lausanne in English and one in Paris in French-­English.

In 1998, IML received the Award of Excellence from the Institute of Transport Management (ITM) in Birmingham. As of 2009, we develop a new program called “Executive Master in Global Supply Chain Management”.

In 2015 we count more than 900 graduates represented more than 76 different countries on 5 continents.

http://iml.epfl.ch/

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-­driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology
and orthopaedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.

To learn more about Ferring or its products please visit www.ferring.com

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-­edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2014, Merck generated sales of € 11.3 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

www.merckgroup.com

About Supply Chain Operations SA

Based in Switzerland, Supply Chain Operations SA is a consultancy firm specialized in supporting healthcare companies in the development of their end-­to-­end supply chain management capabilities at strategic, tactical and operational level.

www.supplychainoperations.ch

For more information, please contact