MHAUS Newsletter, October 2008
In this issue:

P&G Pharmaceuticals Sells Rights For Dantrium®

JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC www.jhppharma.com and SpePHarm Holding, BV www.spepharm.com have acquired marketing rights from Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (P&GP) for Dantrium® (dantrolene sodium) capsules and Dantrium® Intravenous (dantrolene sodium for injection).

 

JHP will supply Dantrium® to the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Chile, while SpePharm Holding, B.V. will supply Europe and selected other countries.

 

To enable product availability during this transition period, the current ordering process will continue through P&GP and the customer service number will remain unchanged (1-800-448-4878) for the next several months. As well, you can order Dantrium® IV directly from JHP by calling or faxing your order to 1-877-547-4547, or emailing customerservice@jhppharma.com.

 

JHP and SpePharm are in the process of contacting customers regarding the ordering process. No action is required by customers at this time.

 

Margaret Link, Marketing Specialist with P&GP, said, “Procter & Gamble has determined that Dantrium® intravenous and capsules no longer fit its long-term strategic goals. As a result, P&GP has decided to divest the franchise and redirect resources toward other opportunities.”

 

Stuart Hinchen, President of JHP commented, “We are delighted to acquire the rights to Dantrium®. This product will fit well into our current portfolio of marketed products which already includes exports to Canada and Australia.”

 

Jean-Francois Labbe, Chief Executive Officer of SpePharm, said, “We have been pleased to partner with JHP in this acquisition and secure Procter & Gamble’s rights to Dantrium® in the rest of the world (excluding the JHP territories). In Europe, Dantrium® will receive support from SpePharm’s growing hospital sales and marketing infrastructure.”

 

A separate company, U.S. WorldMeds, www.usworldmeds.com based in Louisville, KY began marketing a generic form of dantrolene last year.

 

For a brief history on the development of dantrolene, as well as its future, visit the MHAUS president blog at http://www.mhaus.org/presidentsblog/post.cfm/past-present-and-furture-of-dantrolene

 

You can read more details about this story in the upcoming fall issue of MHAUS’ quarterly newsletter, “The Communicator.”

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MHAUS Hosts Annual Recognition Reception

The annual Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) Recognition Reception will be held during the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Meeting in Orlando, FL on October 20, 2008.  The reception honors the recipients of the 2008 Hotline Partnership Award, the Daniel Massik – MHAUS Anesthesiology Residents Award, and the MHAUS Media Award.

 

The reception will be held at Rosen Plaza Hotel, Salon 4 Room, Second Floor, 9700 International Drive, Orlando, Florida, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  Please RSVP via phone at 607-674-7901, fax to 607-674-7910, or email Gloria@mhaus.org if you plan to attend.

 

The Hotline Partnership Award is given to highlight the partnership between a Hotline Consultant and a Medical Professional contacting the MH Hotline for help.  The Daniel Massik – MHAUS Anesthesiology Residents Award in the amount of $1,500 is provided to the primary author of a manuscript related to malignant hyperthermia (MH), who is either an anesthesia resident/fellow or an anesthesiologist within five years of ending his/her training.  The MHAUS Media Award is given to a member of the media who best helps promote awareness of MH and MHAUS.

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Many Notable MH-Related Abstracts Scheduled During the ASA Annual Meeting

There are 14 MH-related abstracts scheduled during the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL from October 18-22, 2008.  Two of these abstracts were derived from studies of the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry (NAMHR).

 

The first, “Temperature Changes Are Not Late Signs of Malignant Hyperthermia” (A374), is presented by Marilyn G. Larach, M.D., F.A.A.P., Gregory C. Allen, M.D., FRCPC, Barbara W. Brandom, M.D., Erik B. Lehman, M.S., and the Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State College of Medicine; the second, “Serious Complications Associated with Malignant Hyperthermia Events” (A371), is presented by the same authors in association with Gerald A. Gronert, M.D.  Both abstracts are scheduled for October 18, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room Hall E2-Area I.

 

To view these and other MH-related abstracts scheduled during the ASA Meeting visit http://www.asaabstracts.com/strands/asaabstracts/search.htm;jsessionid=60D5B396382C6AADE1D68B89D50BFBFC and type the “abstract number” into the appropriate field.

 

Other MH-related abstracts include:

  • A Novel Minimally-Invasive Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) Diagnostic Test in Swine, A885
  • The Causative MH Mutation Thr2206Met (RYR1) May Be Associated with a Mild Myopathy, A650
  • A Novel Ryanodine Receptor (RYR1) Variant in Two Children with Fatal Spontaneous MH-like Events, A648
  • Three Mutations in Ryanodine1 Gene in an MH Family, A657
  • Volatile Anesthetics Induce Different Contractures in Muscle Bundles of MH Susceptible Individuals, A649
  • Statin-Induced Myotoxicity in Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptible Swine Muscle, A945
  • Preparation of the Datex-Ohmeda Aestiva Anesthetic Machine for Malignant Hyperthermia Cases, A279
  • A Novel Minimally-Invasive In Vitro Diagnostic Test for Malignant Hyperthermia in Humans, A879
  • Skeletal Uncoupling Protein 3 Expression in MDMA (“Ecstasy”) Induced Malignant Hyperthermia of Swine, A660
  • Is the Skeletal Uncoupling Protein 3 Upregulated in Porcine Malignant Hyperthermia?, A654
  • Impact of a Quality Procedure on the Survival of Malignant Hyperthermia Cases, A655
  • Systemic Effects of MDMA (“Ecstasy”) in Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptible and Normal Swine, A652

 

For information about the ASA meeting and to register, visit http://www2.asahq.org/web/index.asp. 

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Tell Your MH Survival Story At “Faces of MH”

MHAUS has developed a new section on its website called “Faces of MH.”  You can submit your story, as well as a photo from the year of the event and a more recent photo, to info@mhaus.org.

 

The first addition to “Faces of MH” tells the story of Greg Glassman, who went in for minor surgery when he was 22-months-old and was stricken with MH while in the recovery room.  To read his story as told by his mother, visit http://medical.mhaus.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Content.Display/PagePK/facesOfMhGlassmanGreg.cfm

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MH Mini-Conference A Great Success

The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) held its annual Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) Mini-Conference at the Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida on September 27 and 28, 2008.  Over 120 medical professionals and MH-susceptible patients and their families attended the conference.

 

"I found it (the conference) very informative.  When I returned, my director and anesthesiologist were all over me about any updates.  It seems on the table this morning is a woman who has a family history of MH.  Thank you again for a wonderful conference," said Kathryn Robles, RN, CNOR with Northwest Medical Center in Margate Florida.

 

Speakers included MHAUS President Henry Rosenberg, MD, CPE, Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, Deanna Steele, a genetic counselor from Magee Women’s Hospital Center for Medical Genetics in Pittsburgh, PA, and Mohanad Shukry, MD, Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma, OK, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at University of Oklahoma and an MH Hotline Consultant.

 

MHAUS President Henry Rosenberg, M.D., said there was great interaction between the participants, adding that there were many helpful comments and suggestions that he’s taking back with him to MHAUS.

 

He added, “(We) provided information to over 120 nurses, patients, and providers over two days.  Operating room, post anesthesia care unit, and ambulatory nurses are particularly interested in learning more about MH.”

 

The conference provided updates by medical professionals on the status of MH research and testing, which included the latest on molecular genetic testing, discussion on how to recognize and treat MH, and a question and answer session where medical professionals and MH-susceptible patients shared experiences.  The conference also included a “mock” MH drill, as well as information and tools that MH-susceptible patients can use and share with their anesthesia care provider.

 

Attendees came from as far away as Canada and Chicago.

 

“If there is an interest in putting on such a conference in your neighborhood, please let our office know,” said Dr. Rosenberg.

 

If you would like to request that you or your facility be put on a waiting list for an upcoming conference, please contact Fay Kellogg at fay@mhaus.org.

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