Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/668578
C h a i n D r u g s t o r e D a i l y 2 7 S u n d a y, A p r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 agreed with our sentiment. We launched iMedicare in 2012 and have been able to benefit more than 4,000 pharmacies located in every state and Puerto Rico. CDD: How do pharmacies benefit from using iMedicare? NS: Our main product is a Medicare soft- ware platform that allows pharmacies to find the most affordable plan for a patient in seconds, while ensuring that the plan is accepted at their pharmacy. Outside of this, we incorporate performance meas- ures into the plan comparison to ensure compliance with PQA guidelines and even have a formulary lookup tool to find alternative medications for patients. The average iMedicare pharmacy saves its patients $1,150 on Part D per year. When a pharmacy saves a patient that much money, not only does it build a stronger bond with the patient, but the patient will trust the pharmacy with more of their health care needs. Plus, ensuring a patient can afford their medications will increase prescription adherence, so iMedicare pharmacies fill more prescrip- tions and even bring in prescriptions that patients fill at other pharmacies. Overall, iMedicare increases patient retention, drives new Medicare business to the pharmacy and even wins back patients that started going to another pharmacy. To further drive new business, iMedicare has a patient facing website, www.refillre- port.com, that drives patients to find cost savings at iMedicare pharmacies. CDD: What direction is iMedicare head- ed in? NS: Automation. We have perfected the process of streamlining plan comparisons, while providing the pharmacy and its patients with total transparency; now we want to do it proactively. Eighty percent of Medicare patients need to change Part D plans each year. If your pharmacy has 1,000 Medicare patients, we will identify the 800 you need to talk to. Not only that, we will tell you that by helping Patient A, you can save them $2,000 on their Part D plan. By helping Patient B, you can save them $500 and also increase your pharma- cy's reimbursements by $4,000. These actions not only increase your bottom line, but they make your patients healthier and huge advocates of your pharmacy. This type of automation is crucial for pharmacies. Ten thousand people turn 65 everyday in the U.S., which means the Medicare population is doubling to 80 million in the next decade. Medicare busi- iMedicare (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) ness is going to be imperative to every pharmacy. iMedicare makes understand- ing a patient's insurance and drug inter- ventions a breeze, and helps the pharma- cy's staff become Medicare experts. For more information, call 917.909.4201 or email nathan@imedicare.com. SPARK THERAPEUTICS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF GENABLE TECHNOLOGIES Spark Therapeutics has announced that it has acquired Dublin, Ireland-based Genable Technologies, a private gene therapy innovator with which Spark has collaborated since 2014 in the develop- ment of Genable's therapeutic program targeting one of the most prevalent forms of inherited retinal disease (IRD). With the acquisition, Spark acquires RhoNova™, a potential treatment target- ing rhodopsin-linked autosomal domi- nant retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-adRP), an IRD that routinely leads to visual impairment and in the most severe cases to blindness. Using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector developed and manu- factured at Spark, RhoNova is designed to both suppress the expression of a faulty gene and deliver normal copies of the RHO gene to restore normal expres- sion. RhoNova has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in both the U.S. and Europe in addition to the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product designation from the European Medicines Agency. There is currently no approved pharma- cologic treatment for RHO-adRP, which affects an estimated 12,000 patients in the United States and the five major European markets (EU5). "This transaction advances our strat- egy of leveraging Spark's best-in-class gene therapy platform through a combi- nation of internal innovation, acquisition and collaboration," said Jeffrey D. Marrazzo, Spark Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Genable's technology and promising RhoNova development program further strengthens our portfolio of treatments for IRDs, which is led by our Phase 3 program for RPE65-mediated blindness which recently reported over- whelmingly positive pivotal stage data." "Genable has provided convincing data in animals to support their innovative scientific approach for the treatment of autosomal dominant diseases, where it is critical to both suppress faulty genes and replace them with a functional copy in order to have a meaningful therapeutic effect," said Katherine A. High, MD, Co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Spark. "We look forward to using our vali- dated gene therapy development platform and expertise to accelerate the clinical development of RhoNova, while examining other potential applications for the Genable suppression/augmentation approach outside of this initial indication." The consideration paid to Genable shareholders consisted of $6 million in cash and 265,000 shares of Spark com- mon stock. Additional financial terms were not disclosed. About Spark Therapeutics Spark is a gene therapy leader seeking to transform the lives of patients with debili- tating genetic diseases by developing one- time, life-altering treatments. Spark's initial focus is on treating rare diseases where no, or only palliative, therapies exist. Spark's most advanced product candidate, SPK- RPE65 (voretigene neparvovec), which has received both breakthrough therapy and orphan product designation, recently reported positive top-line results from a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the treat- ment of rare blinding conditions. Spark's validated gene therapy platform is being applied to a range of clinical and preclinical programs addressing serious genetic dis- eases, including inherited retinal dystro- phies, hematologic disorders and neurode- generative diseases. Spark builds on two decades of research, development and manufacturing at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, including human trials conducted across diverse therapeutic areas and routes of administration. About Genable Technologies Genable Technologies Ltd. is a privately held, venture-capital-backed, Dublin, Ireland-based gene therapy company. Genable is developing new gene therapies to treat "dominant" genetic diseases. Genable has received significant support and investment from Fountain Healthcare Partners, Delta Partners, Fighting Blindness Ireland, Foundation Fighting Blindness Clinical Research Institute (U.S.), Trinity College Dublin and Enterprise Ireland. For more information, visit www.sparktx .com and www.genable.net. EXERGEN TEMPORALSCANNER THERMOMETER FEATURED ON HIT MEDICAL DRAMA The Exergen TemporalScanner that is used in thousands of healthcare facilities and millions of homes can now add another prime time television show to its resume. On a recent episode of NBC's newest hit series, Chicago Med, the best- selling Exergen TemporalScanner was used by Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto) who specializes in emergency pediatric medicine on the show. Dr. Manning uses the TemporalScanner to take the temperature of a young girl who might have a meningitis infection. "We are pleased to see the TemporalScanner making its way into popular culture, which is a reflection of the wide acceptance of Exergen's groundbreaking innovation in medical care," said Dr. Francesco Pompei, Exergen Chief Executive Officer. "Temporal artery thermometers are fast, easy to use and non-invasive, enabling medical professionals to accurately assess patients while ensuring a comfort- able overall experience." Exergen was featured in episode 11, "Intervention," during Chicago Med's first season. Chicago Med, produced by Emmy Award-winning Dick Wolf, provides insight into the lives of the healthcare providers working at the city's largest trau- ma center who use cutting edge technolo- gy and innovation to enhance patient lives. Exergen markets two models of the TemporalScanner thermometer: a profes- sional version for hospitals and clinics, and a consumer model sold in major retailers including Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreen's, Babies "R" Us, Toys "R" Us and Kroger. More than two bil- lion temperatures are taken each year with the TemporalScanner in thousands of hospitals and clinics, and millions of homes. Supported by more than 60 peer- reviewed published studies covering all ages from preterm infants to geriatrics, and all care areas from hospitals to homes, the Exergen TemporalScanner is the No. 1 thermometer in proven accura- cy, and the No. 1 preference of pediatri- cians, nurses and moms. For more information, visit www .exergen.com.