Pheburane® (sodium phenylbutyrate) is now on the Medicaid Preferred Drug List in 10 states

Medunik USA, member of Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG) one of the few anchor companies selected by the Government of Canada for its Global Hypergrowth Project, is pleased to announce that Pheburane® coverage has reached another important milestone to the benefit of Americans with certain urea cycle disorders (UCDs) and is now on the Medicaid Preferred Drug List in 10 states with the recent addition of Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Missouri along with those already in effect in New Hampshire, New Mexico*, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah*. Pheburane® is also included on the California Contract Drugs List with no prior authorization required and is covered by commercial insurance plans, which now reaches ~80% of the commercially insured US population.

Pheburane® is the safe, effective and palatable adjunctive therapy to the standard of care, which includes dietary management, for the treatment of certain UCDs. Pheburane® is an innovative formulation of sodium phenylbutyrate consisting of very small coated oral pellets (about the size of sugar crystals) and is indicated for both adult and pediatric patients. Pheburane® is not indicated for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia. The most common side effects associated with sodium phenylbutyrate are menstrual dysfunction, decreased appetite, body odor and bad taste or taste aversion.1

Available in Europe since 2013 and in Canada since 2015, Pheburane® has demonstrated globally its effectiveness in the treatment of UCDs. Pheburane® is a proven treatment with both short-term and long-term (up to 30 months) clinical data establishing its treatment efficacy at lowering ammonia levels in the blood to within normal range2,3 which is crucial as high ammonia levels in the bloodstream may lead to serious and life-threatening health problems for UCD patients.4

“We are glad to contribute to Medunik USA’s efforts to facilitate availability of Pheburane® for Americans with certain urea cycle disorders. The widespread access we have been able to achieve reflects the value proposition of Pheburane® to the healthcare system, and we look forward to continuing to assist Medunik USA in their efforts to generate further cost-savings throughout the healthcare industry,” said Bill Finneran, President of Viking Healthcare Solutions.

With the continued favorable commercial and Medicaid coverage updates, Pheburane® is reaching more patients all over the USA while being recognized as a first-line therapy by health authorities in key states. In other states Pheburane® has equal, or better, coverage as well as being priced at a significant discount to these options: 1/3 of the cost of RAVICTI® (glycerol phenylbutyrate)** and ½ the price of OLPRUVATM (sodium phenylbutyrate)**.

UCDs are rare, chronic, genetic conditions that can be fatal if left untreated, and can impact children from the time of birth. UCDs disrupt the body’s urea cycle, and therefore, the body is unable to remove the dangerous buildup of toxic chemicals, particularly ammonia, that are created from the digestion of protein. One in 35,000 people in the United States or about 28 per one million residents suffer from UCDs of different levels of severity.4

Medunik USA offers Pheburane® through its UNIK Support Program – designed to support each unique patient. UNIK Support offers specialized services including a copay savings program, patient care liaison services, mail order pharmacy and other support services.