Company Expands Strontium89 Reach Through Partnership with WSI, a Federally Focused Contract Sales Organization
NEW YORK, May 20, 2021 - Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO), a commercial stage biotech company, announced today that it has hired WSI PBG, LLC (WSI), a Michigan based firm specializing in creating access for and selling pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostics and durable medical equipment in the Veterans Administration (VA), Military Health System (MHS) and Indian Healthcare System (IHS). WSI will have 6 Federal Account Managers promoting Strontium89 (Strontium Chloride Sr-89 Injection, USP) within 76 VA and MHS medical centers across the US.
Through this partnership and the recently approved FSS VA/Federal Supply Contract, Q BioMed will have a robust presence in the VA/Department of Defense and Federal health system and will be able to strategically sell Strontium89 as an added radionuclide therapeutic choice. Veterans are at higher risk for prostate, breast, and lung cancer, the three most common cancers treated with Strontium89 if they become painfully metastatic to the bone. In fact, prostate cancer rates in the military are twice those in the general population1 and military personnel were found to be nearly 40 percent more likely to develop breast cancer2. Now these patients may be able to benefit from Strontium89 treatment for their metastatic bone pain.
In the Strontium89 pivotal trial, as many as 79% of patients had pain relief with Strontium89, and twice as many patients treated with Strontium89 had no pain for 3 months compared with placebo. Further, new pain sites were less frequent in patients treated with Strontium893, 4. Strontium89 is administered once every 3 months via injection, and patients can be re-treated if needed. Please see Important Safety Information below.
“Q BioMed is excited by this important partnership. We are now better able to access the VA and Federal health system and meet the needs of their patients with painful bone metastases. We are pleased that this will enable us to engage with VA clinicians throughout the U.S. and see expanded use of Strontium89,” stated Q BioMed Chief Commercial Officer, Kristin Keller.
“WSI is honored to have the opportunity to represent Q BioMed as their Federal promotional partner and to represent Strontium89 within the Federal medical centers treating our nation’s Military and Veteran beneficiaries,” said Rick Ryan, Owner, Managing Partner, WSI.
Learn more at www.Strontium89.com
INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Strontium Chloride Sr-89 Injection, USP is indicated for the relief of bone pain in patients with painful skeletal metastases. The presence of bone metastases should be confirmed prior to therapy.
WARNINGS
Use of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection in patients with evidence of seriously compromised bone marrow from previous therapy or disease infiltration is not recommended unless the potential benefit of the treatment outweighs its risks. Bone marrow toxicity is to be expected following the administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection, particularly white blood cells and platelets. The extent of toxicity is variable. It is recommended that the patient’s peripheral blood cell counts be monitored at least once every other week. Typically, platelets will be depressed by about 30% compared to pre-administration levels. The nadir of platelet depression in most patients is found between 12 and 16 weeks following administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection. White blood cells are usually depressed to a varying extent compared to pre-administration levels. Thereafter, recovery occurs slowly, typically reaching pre-administration levels six months after treatment unless the patient’s disease or additional therapy intervenes. In considering repeat administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection, the patient’s hematologic response to the initial dose, current platelet level and other evidence of marrow depletion should be carefully evaluated. Verification of dose and patient identification is necessary prior to administration because Strontium-89 Chloride Injection delivers a relatively high dose of radioactivity.
Strontium-89 Chloride Injection may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
PRECAUTIONS
Strontium-89 Chloride Injection is not indicated for use in patients with cancer not involving bone.
Strontium-89 Chloride Injection should be used with caution in patients with platelet counts below 60,000 and white cell counts below 2,400.
Radiopharmaceuticals should only be used by physicians who are qualified by training and experience in the safe use and handling of radionuclides and whose experience and training have been approved by the appropriate government agency authorized to license the use of radionuclides.
Strontium-89 Chloride Injection, like other radioactive drugs, must be handled with care and appropriate safety measures taken to minimize radiation to clinical personnel.
In view of the delayed onset of pain relief, typically 7 to 20 days post injection, administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection to patients with very short life expectancy is not recommended.
A calcium-like flushing sensation has been observed in patients following a rapid (less than 30 second injection) administration.
Special precautions, such as urinary catheterization, should be taken following administration to patients who are incontinent to minimize the risk of radioactive contamination of clothing, bed linens and the patient’s environment.
Strontium-89 Chloride Injection is excreted primarily by the kidneys. In patients with renal dysfunction, the possible risks of administering Strontium-89 Chloride Injection should be weighed against the possible benefits.
PREGNANCY
Teratogenic effects. Pregnancy Category D. See Warnings section.
NURSING MOTHERS
Because Strontium-89 Chloride Injection acts as a calcium analog, secretion of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection into human milk is likely. It is recommended that nursing be discontinued by mothers about to receive intravenous Strontium-89 Chloride Injection. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk.
PEDIATRIC USE
Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 18 years have not been established.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
A single case of fatal septicemia following leukopenia was reported during clinical trials. Most severe reactions of marrow toxicity can be managed by conventional means.
A small number of patients have reported a transient increase in bone pain at 36 to 72 hours after injection. This is usually mild and self-limiting, and controllable with analgesics. A single patient reported chills and fever 12 hours after injection without long-term sequelae.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call (800) FDA-1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Strontium-89 Chloride Injection.
References:
1. https://zerocancer.org/get-support/zero-prostate-cancer-veterans/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2780333/pdf/nihms158630.pdf
STRONTIUM CHLORIDE Sr-89 INJECTION, USP THERAPEUTIC [package insert]. Angleton, TX: IsoTherapeutics Group, LLC; 2020.
2. Porter AT, McEwan AJB, Powe JE, et al. Results of a randomized phase-III trial to evaluate the efficacy of strontium-89 adjuvant to local field external beam irradiation in the management of endocrine resistant metastatic prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1993;25(5):805-813.
About Q BioMed Inc.
Q BioMed Inc is a biotech acceleration and commercial stage company. Q BioMed is focused on licensing and acquiring undervalued biomedical assets in the healthcare sector. Q BioMed is dedicated to providing these target assets the strategic resources, developmental support, and expansion capital needed to ensure they meet their developmental potential, enabling them to provide products to patients in need.
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