MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) and the COPD Foundation today launched an expansion of the COPD Together campaign, which educates caregivers about recognizing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression and taking a more active role in the “shared care” team along with healthcare professionals. COPDTogether.com, an essential resource for caregivers and their loved ones, has also expanded with additional resources and an enhanced design.
“Our dedication to providing resources that support patients is unwavering, and the partnerships forged and campaigns deployed, such as COPD Together, enable us to further our commitment by supporting the full COPD ‘shared care’ team, including caregivers.”
“Caregivers are vital in managing a loved one’s health and wellbeing, and it’s important that we focus on their needs as they have a strong impact in the COPD care continuum,” said John W. Walsh, President and co-founder of the COPD Foundation. “As we launch the next phase of COPD Together with Sunovion, we will continue to support and empower caregivers through education and the sharing of personal experiences as they embrace this meaningful role in their lives.”
Television actress and COPD advocate Loni Anderson also continues to support this personal cause and campaign, sharing first-hand insights and advice as a COPD caregiver on the new COPDTogether.com website. This website serves as a clearing house for much-needed COPD resources for caregivers seeking information. Additionally, caregivers will have access to the “My Diary” tool to chronicle daily symptoms and help their loved ones prepare for physicians visits, and the “COPD Care” app to assist with tracking a patient’s disease progression and serve as a starting point for discussion with healthcare providers.
“Serving as my parents’ COPD caregiver was one the most challenging roles I ever played, both physically and emotionally, but also one in which I learned the most about myself and what is important in life,” said Anderson. “I feel fortunate to be able to help others by imparting my knowledge and experiences through the COPD Together campaign. First-hand experience is invaluable in educating caregivers as they care for a loved one, so they are better equipped to manage their caregiving responsibilities while also maintaining a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle for themselves.”
In addition to the expanded COPDTogether.com, Sunovion and the COPD Foundation will host an educational webcast on Thursday, November 20, 2014 during National Family Caregiver Month and COPD Awareness Month. This webcast, moderated by the COPD Foundation and led by Dr. Sandra Adams, a leading COPD expert and Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, will arm caregivers with helpful information to manage a loved one’s COPD and encourage them to voice questions and concerns relating to their caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to hear the first-hand experience of caregiver Mary Nelson from Tucson, AZ, as she shares tips on how she managed her husband’s COPD. Patients, caregivers and healthcare providers are invited to participate in the webcast, and can sign-up for additional information at the COPD Together Caregiver Webinar registration page.
“We understand that living with a respiratory disease can make simple tasks feel monumental and are committed to helping enable COPD patients and caregivers to continue their daily activities,” said Michael Gaines, Executive Director of Respiratory Marketing, Sunovion. “Our dedication to providing resources that support patients is unwavering, and the partnerships forged and campaigns deployed, such as COPD Together, enable us to further our commitment by supporting the full COPD ‘shared care’ team, including caregivers.”
For more information about the COPD Together campaign, please visit www.COPDTogether.com.
About the COPD Foundation
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary and a decade of progress, the mission of the COPD Foundation (www.COPDFoundation.org) is to prevent and cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to improve the lives of all people affected by COPD. The C.O.P.D. Information Line, 866-316-COPD (2673), is a toll-free number for information and referrals on COPD, offering callers access to peer-to-peer patients and caregiver associates.
About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion)
Sunovion is a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic products that advance the science of medicine in the Psychiatry, Neurology and Respiratory disease areas and improve the lives of patients and their families.
Sunovion, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. More information about Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is available at www.sunovion.com.
About Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is a top-ten listed pharmaceutical company in Japan. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma aims to produce innovative pharmaceutical products in the Psychiatry & Neurology area and the Oncology area, which have been designated as the focus therapeutic areas. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is based on the merger in 2005 between Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Today, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma has about 7,000 employees worldwide. Additional information about Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is available through its corporate website at www.ds-pharma.com
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a U.S. subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.©
2014 Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
For a copy of this release, visit Sunovion’s web site at www.sunovion.com