Contact:
Jamie Bennett
(202) 621-2886
jbennett@w2ogroup.com
EPIDUO® TAP PROGRAM MAY INCREASE PATIENT ADHERENCE TO ACNE TREATMENT
Multi-Media Program Provides Epiduo® Gel Patients with Tools to Track Treatment
Fort Worth, Texas – March 11, 2013 – Galderma Laboratories, L.P. today announced the availability of
the “Epiduo® TAP (Treatment, Adherence, and Performance) Program, a first-of-its-kind online and
mobile patient platform, powered by HealthPrize, that educates acne patients about the proper
application of Epiduo® (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide 0.1%/2.5%) Gel and encourages acne patients
to stay adherent to treatment through an interactive and integrated performance-based platform. TAP
Into Epiduo is now available to dermatologists and their patients nationwide to promote better
treatment adherence which could improve treatment outcomes.
“TAP Into Epiduo is a welcomed educational program that helps set and manage Epiduo® Gel treatment
expectations from the onset of treatment,” said Steven R. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor Dermatology
at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. “More than just an educational program, TAP Into Epiduo helps
dermatologists’ patients use their acne treatment correctly, which may lead to increased adherence and
improved treatment outcomes. Poor use of acne medication can occur anytime during treatment, and
given the chronic nature of acne, a program like TAP Into Epiduo is needed to encourage patient
adherence to the entire treatment schedule. It is exciting to see the use of an internet-based approach
to encourage better health outcomes. I think we are seeing the future of medicine beginning to unfold.”
Once prescribed Epiduo® Gel, patients will be able to register for TAP Into Epiduo and begin earning
points by interacting with various program elements, such as: reporting daily medication usage, refilling
their Epiduo® Gel prescription and completing weekly quizzes and surveys. Points earned through these
activities can be redeemed for rewards.
Through the program’s incentive-based system, patients are encouraged to follow their treatment
regimen via text and email reminders. These reminders may help patients adhere to treatment,
improve outcomes, and prevent future breakouts.
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“We constantly hear from dermatologists that adherence to acne medication is poor and there is a
need for programs to help improve compliance,” said Brian Johnson, Vice President of Prescription
Marketing, Galderma Laboratories, L.P. “Galderma has always been committed to achieving the highest
innovative dermatological standards. TAP Into Epiduo allows Galderma to develop its technology
footprint, which uses concepts from gamification and behavioral economics to create a better patient
experience while improving acne education and adherence which should ultimately help improve
treatment outcomes.”
About Acne
Acne vulgaris is the most common skin problem in the United States, affecting about 40 to 50 million
Americans at any one point in time.1 Acne appears when skin pores clog, beginning with dead skin
cells1. When the body starts to make lots of sebum, dead skin cells can stick together inside the pore.
Instead of rising to the surface, the cells become trapped inside the pore.1 Sometimes bacteria that live
on our skin, p. acnes, also get inside the clogged pore.1 Inside the pore, the bacteria have a perfect
environment for multiplying very quickly.1 With loads of bacteria inside, the pore becomes inflamed (red
and swollen).1 If the inflammation goes deep into the skin, an acne cyst or nodule appears.1
About Galderma
Galderma is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1981 and exclusively focused on dermatology.
The company has 31 wholly-owned affiliates with a worldwide network of distributors and 4,000
employees. Galderma's extensive product portfolio is available in 70 countries and treats a range of
dermatological conditions including: acne, rosacea, onychomycosis, psoriasis & steroid-responsive
dermatoses, pigmentary disorders, skin cancer and medical solutions for skin senescence. In 2011,
Galderma acquired Q-Med, a Swedish medical device company specialized in aesthetics, strengthening
Galderma's presence in the aesthetic and corrective market.
With approximately 19% of revenues invested each year to discover and develop new products and
access innovative technologies, the company is one of the world's leading investors in dermatology
R&D. Four state-of-the-art R&D centers, of which Sophia Antipolis in France is one of the largest
dermatology sites in the world, and four manufacturing sites are dedicated to providing a wide range of
innovative medical solutions which meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy. Strategic brands in
the US include Epiduo®, Oracea®, Clobex®, Differin®, MetroGel®, Vectical® and Cetaphil®. For more
information, please visit www.galdermausa.com.
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About HealthPrize
HealthPrize Technologies provides an innovative approach to addressing the problem of medication
non-adherence with an online and mobile-based program that is fun, educational and
rewarding. Patients are engaged and motivated by the HealthPrize system which leverages gaming
dynamics, behavioral economics and proven concepts from consumer marketing to engage and educate
patients so they start and stay on prescribed medications.
For more information, please visit http://www.healthprize.com.
Important Safety Information
Indication: EPIDUO® Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 9 years of age
and older. Adverse Events: In controlled clinical studies, the most commonly reported adverse events
(≥1%) in patients treated with EPIDUO® Gel were dry skin, contact dermatitis, application site burning,
application site irritation and skin irritation. Warnings/Precautions: Patients taking EPIDUO® Gel should
avoid exposure to sunlight and sunlamps and wear sunscreen when sun exposure cannot be avoided.
Erythema, scaling, dryness, stinging/ burning, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis may occur with use
of EPIDUO® Gel and may necessitate discontinuation.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit
www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
References:
1.
American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: Who gets and causes. Accessed at: https://www.aad.org/skinconditions/dermatology-a-to-z/acne/who-gets-causes on February 4, 2013.
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