BERWYN, Pa., Oct. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — EDW Pharma, a U.S.-based specialty pharmaceutical company and a subsidiary of Italfarmaco, a privately-held European specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today the U.S. availability of its first commercial product, TIGLUTIK™ (riluzole) oral suspension, for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare disease that affects nerve cells that are responsible for controlling muscle movement. 

“Riluzole was the first treatment to slow the progression of ALS and has been the gold standard for more than 20 years. ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that has no cure, results in progressive weakness leading to difficulties in swallowing for more than 80% of affected individuals.  The availability of TIGLUTIK, a thickened liquid preparation of riluzole, will allow continued ease of administration when a patient can no longer swallow the pills. This will enable people living with ALS to continue to take riluzole throughout the course of their illness and minimizes the difficulties and time related to crushing pills into liquid. Not only that, dosing will be more accurate and the ease of using an already liquid medicine will improve compliance,” said Terry Heiman-Patterson, MD, director, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, professor, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

EDW Pharma has begun offering TIGLUTIK in the U.S. through its highly-specialized field sales team. EDW Pharma is providing comprehensive patient support services and has partnered with a full-service specialty pharmacy, to help people living with ALS receive TIGLUTIK quickly and with ease by assisting with authorizations, commercial insurance claims and benefits. While out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on insurance status, EDW Pharma’s co-pay program may be able to help.