Bayer HealthCare will host an event for members of the bleeding disorders community, patients and their families during the National Hemophilia Foundation's (NHF) Annual Meeting taking place August 13-15 in Dallas, Texas.  The dinner event will feature a keynote address from Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman astronaut, who will share her love of exploration, meeting challenges and growing up.

Also a physician, engineer and accomplished children's author, Dr. Jemison is Bayer's long-time ambassador and advocate for its award-winning "Making Science Make Sense" initiative, which advances science literacy across the United States through hands-on learning, public education, and employee volunteerism. Dr. Jemison's talk will highlight the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, not just for students pursuing STEM careers but for all of us in our everyday lives.

"I believe that all children are innately interested in science," said Dr. Jemison.  "Frequently young people with chronic illnesses are even more likely to be engaged in and knowledgeable about science, as they gain an early command of concepts about their body and the environment in order to understand their disease and manage their health."  

"Bayer has a long, proud history of working with the bleeding disorders community, and our STEM education initiatives have often aligned closely with issues that are important to patients and their families," said Dario Mirski, MD, Vice President U.S. Medical Affairs, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. "We must invest in our young people so they can be prepared for success as potential future innovators."

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals business of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG. Bayer HealthCare is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, and combines the activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. As a specialty pharmaceutical company, Bayer HealthCare provides products for General Medicine, Hematology, Neurology, Oncology and Women's Healthcare. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

The American Red Cross continues to provide emergency relief on Saipan even as residents prepare for two new tropical storms threatening this remote U.S. territory.American Red Cross.

Typhoon Soudelor blasted Saipan, part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern mariana Islands, last week, leaving most of the island without power, water and sewer facilities. The new tropical systems are likely to bring new flooding and further damage the battered island.

"For an island devastated by a massive typhoon and left with no electricity or water, these people are incredibly good natured and generous," said Julie Bradley, a Red Cross volunteer from Arizona deployed to Saipan. "There is a real fear here in Saipan that although they are part of the American territories in the Pacific, they will be overlooked by the traditional generosity of Americans towards one another."

Typhoon Soudelor damaged more than 1,100 homes, including nearly 600 that were destroyed or suffered major damage. With a local office on Saipan and a group of dedicated volunteers, the Red Cross helped people prepare as Typhoon Soudelor moved in and was on site immediately to support sheltering, feeding and damage assessment efforts.

Thousands of people – more than 4,600 – have already called seeking help. More than 200 people spent Thursday night in government-operated shelters and that number is likely to increase over the weekend as the new tropical systems bring heavy rain and high winds to the island. The Red Cross has already provided more than 14,000 meals and handed out more than 26,000 emergency relief items.

"Right now the people of Saipan depend on the Red Cross for the supplies of daily living; everything from food to cooking and cleaning items," continued Bradley. "Recovery will be long and expensive, and I hope that although Saipan is far from the mainland, generous donors keep them in mind."

Because of the extensive damage, the Red Cross has created a robust relief plan to get immediate help to people who need it. The program combines financial assistance with critical supplies to help people begin to recover. Relief supplies include items such as rice, canned foods, hygiene products and cleaning supplies for thousands of people in the hardest hit areas.

CONNECTING WITH FAMILY It's important that those affected by these tropical storms stay in contact with loved ones and the Red Cross Safe and Well website can help people do that. Safe and Well is a secure, easy-to-use online tool to help families connect in an emergency. People can register by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).         

HOW TO HELP People can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. We respond to nearly 70,000 other disasters every year, from home fires to hurricanes, typhoons and more. Learn more about how Disaster Relief donations have helped people affected by previous disasters including home fires.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information,

please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Johnson Health Tech Co. Ltd, of Taiwan, and Johnson Health Tech North America Inc., of Cottage Grove, Wis., have agreed to pay a $3 million civil penalty. The civil penalty agreement settles CPSC staff's charges that Johnson Health Tech knowingly failed to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, regarding a defect and an unreasonable risk of serious injury with Matrix Fitness Ascent Trainers and Elliptical Trainers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1973 and charged with protecting the American public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772, or visit http//:www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Further recall information is available at
http://www.cpsc.gov.

The fitness trainers' defect involved a build-up of moisture in the power sockets of the units from perspiration or cleaning liquids, which caused the machines to short circuit. Between March 2012 and October 2013, Johnson Health Tech received multiple reports of smoking, sparking or melted power components and reports of fires involving the trainers. Despite these reports and two design changes to fix the problem, Johnson Health Tech failed to report the defect, the consumer incidents or the design changes to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours). There were no injuries or property damage reported.

The Matrix Fitness Ascent Trainers and Elliptical Trainers were recalled in January 2014, after Johnson Health Tech had manufactured, imported and sold more than 3,000 units nationwide. The firm sold the trainers from September 2011 through December 2012 for between $6,000 and $11,000 each.

In addition to paying the $3 million civil penalty, Johnson Health Tech North America has agreed that the company has, and will maintain, a compliance program to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and a related system of internal controls and procedures.

The compliance program requires written standards, policies, and written procedures to ensure that all information regarding the firm's compliance with the CPSA, including reports and complaints, is conveyed to the firm's responsible employees, whether an injury is referenced or not. The compliance program also must address:

•     confidential employee reporting of compliance concerns to a senior manager;
•     effective communication of compliance policies and procedures, including training;
•     senior management responsibility for, and board oversight of compliance; and
•     requirements for record retention.

Johnson Health Tech does not admit to CPSC staff's charges.

The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission by a 3 to 2 vote.

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2015/Johnson-Health-Tech-Agrees-to-Pay-3-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Report-Defective-Fitness-Equipment/

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: 301-504-7908
Spanish: 301-504-7800

PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Ted Dallas, Representatives Madeleine Dean and  Mary Jo Daley, and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro will be joined by Pottstown-area human services providers at the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania to request the General Assembly to provide adequate funding for human service programs in the 2015-16 budget.

WHAT: DHS Secretary Ted Dallas visits Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania to advocate for adequate human services funding.
WHEN: Monday, August 17, 2015, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 249 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

MEDIA CONTACT: Kait Gillis, 717-425-7606

 Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP) (TSX: ENL) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued a ruling upholding two Endo patents covering OPANA® ER, the Company's opioid agonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. The ruling also determined that Endo's patents had been infringed by all of the defendants. As a result, it is expected that the generic version of non-crush-resistant OPANA® ER currently sold by Actavis, the U.S. generics business of Allergan, Inc., will be removed from the market and additional approved but not yet marketed generic versions of the product developed by other generic companies will not be launched in the near term.

"Endo has long been dedicated to vigorously asserting and defending our patents for OPANA® ER," said Rajiv De Silva, President and CEO of Endo. "We are very happy with today's outcome and are reviewing the ruling in greater detail to determine its long-term impact. We remain committed to advancing OPANA® ER and to making it available to patients for responsible and appropriate use."

In December 2012, Endo filed a patent infringement complaint against Actavis in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for patent infringement based on Actavis' sale of a non-crush-resistant generic version of OPANA® ER. In 2013, Endo filed similar suits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the following additional applicants for non-crush-resistant OPANA® ER: Par Pharmaceutical, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt LLC, Sandoz, Roxane and Ranbaxy. The suits against par Pharmaceutical and Mallinckrodt LLC have been dismissed pursuant to settlements and the suits against Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sandoz have been dismissed based on those companies' demonstration to Endo that they do not intend to pursue an ANDA for non-crush-resistant OPANA® ER.

About OPANA® ER

OPANA® ER is a strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as, non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them. OPANA® ER is a long-acting (extended-release) opioid pain medicine that can put you at risk for overdose and death. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed, you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death. OPANA® ER is not for use to treat pain that is not around-the-clock. It is not known if OPANA® ER is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age. The full prescribing information and Medication Guide for OPANA® ER is available at www.opana.com . Also, read the boxed warning and additional safety information below.

Important Safety Information for OPANA® ER

WARNING: ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; and INTERACTION WITH ALCOHOL

Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse OPANA® ER exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patient's risk prior to prescribing OPANA® ER, and monitor all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors or conditions.

Life-threatening Respiratory Depression serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of OPANA®

ER. Monitor for respiratory depression, especially during initiation of OPANA® ER or following a dose increase. Instruct patients to swallow OPANA® ER tablets whole; crushing, chewing, or dissolving OPANA® ER tablets can cause rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of oxymorphone.

Accidental Ingestion

Accidental ingestion of even one dose of OPANA® ER, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of oxymorphone.

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome prolonged use of OPANA® ER during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated, and requires management according to protocols developed by neonatology experts. If opioid use is required for a prolonged period in a pregnant woman, advise the patient of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available.

Interaction with Alcohol

Instruct patients not to consume alcoholic beverages or use prescription or non-prescription products that contain alcohol while taking OPANA® ER. The co-ingestion of alcohol with OPANA® ER may result in increased plasma levels and a potentially fatal overdose of oxymorphone.

Contraindications

OPANA® ER is contraindicated in patients with:

•     Significant respiratory depression
•     Acute or severe bronchial asthma or hypercarbia
•     Known or suspected paralytic ileus and gastrointestinal obstruction
•     Moderate and severe hepatic impairment
•     Hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylaxis) to oxymorphone, any other ingredients in OPANA® ER, or to morphine analogs such as codeine

About Endo International plc

Endo International plc is a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives while creating shareholder value. Endo develops, manufactures, markets and distributes quality branded pharmaceutical and generic pharmaceutical products as well as over-the-counter medications though its operating companies. Endo has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and U.S. headquarters in Malvern, PA. Learn more at www.endo.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities legislation. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan,"

"will," "may," "look forward," "intend," "guidance," "future" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect Endo's current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Although Endo believes that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. Investors should note that many factors, as more fully described in the documents filed by Endo with securities regulators in the united States and Canada including under the caption "Risk Factors" in Endo's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with securities regulators in Canada on System for Electronic Document Analysis and

Retrieval ("SEDAR") and as otherwise enumerated herein or therein, could affect Endo's future financial results and could cause Endo's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements contained in Endo's Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. These are factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause Endo's actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Endo assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced that it has been awarded full healthcare network accreditation from URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry.

 

TriWest Healthcare Alliance

"It is our mission to ensure our nation's Veterans have access to the highest standard of quality healthcare providers available through our network," said David J. McIntyre, Jr., president and CEO of TriWest.

As a partner to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), TriWest administers the VA's patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) program and the Veterans Choice Program (VCP). VCP enables Veterans to obtain healthcare from a non-VA provider if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility, or if they have waited longer than 30 days for a medical appointment.

"URAC representatives took great care to examine our business practices and determined that our healthcare network meets their rigorous standard of quality," said David Brooks,

Vice President of Provider Services for TriWest. "By achieving this accreditation, the Veterans we serve will have further confirmation that they are receiving the highest level of care."

URAC's Health Network Accreditation standards include key quality benchmarks for:

•     Network management
•     Provider credentialing
•     Utilization management
•     Quality management and improvement
•     Consumer protection

"We applaud TriWest Healthcare Alliance on achieving URAC FULL accreditation pursuant to Health Network, Version 7.1" said URAC President and CEO Kylanne Green.

"In today's healthcare market, URAC accreditation provides a mark of distinction for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to quality healthcare."

About TriWest Healthcare Alliance

TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves our nation's heroes as the partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs in administering the Patient-Centered Community Care and Veterans Choice Programs. TriWest has been On a Mission to Serve® America's military families and Veterans since 1996 delivering award-winning customer service and providing access to high-quality healthcare. The company's official website is www.triwest.com.

About URAC

For 25 years, URAC has been the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, education, and measurement. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking products that reflect the latest changes in healthcare and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability. URAC's evidence-based measures and standards are developed through inclusive engagement with a broad range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare.