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Press Release
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Namath Hits the Road to Help Millions of Americans Tackle Osteoarthritis
Hall of Fame Quarterback Joins Forces with Patients, Families and Doctors
Atlanta, GA, April 20, 2004 - NFL Hall-of-Famer and Super Bowl MVP Joe Namath continues his crusade to help osteoarthritis patients develop a game plan to battle the disease. Namath leads a campaign called the Arthritis Huddle, a national health initiative designed to help osteoarthritis patients improve their overall care by teaming-up with doctors, fitness and nutrition experts, family and other essential members of their healthcare team.
"As a football player, I've always felt that working with my teammates is much more effective than trying to win the game alone. Same holds true for fighting my osteoarthritis," said Namath, the former New York Jets quarterback, who has suffered from osteoarthritis for more than 30 years. "Through the Arthritis Huddle, I hope to motivate people to team up with their doctors to find the right exercise, diet, relaxation and medication plan for them."
Namath is working with Boehringer Ingelheim and Abbott Laboratories, co-marketers of MOBIC® (meloxicam tablets), to help other osteoarthritis patients become proactive in caring for their arthritis and alleviating some of the painful symptoms of this disease. MOBIC® (meloxicam tablets) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, and has been available in the U.S. since April 2000.
"It is important that people with osteoarthritis are armed with information and learn that they do not have to live with pain and other symptoms of this disease," said Dr. Howard Schertzinger, Sports and Spine Medicine Medical Director and Team Physician at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. "There are exercise programs and medications, such as MOBIC, that can be safe and effective options for osteoarthritis patients that can alleviate pain and stiffness."
At age 23, Namath was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his knees, and now suffers from the disease in his hands and spine. His condition is likely due to a combination of trauma experienced while playing football, a hereditary link - his mother had osteoarthritis - and simply growing older. As a result of his condition, Namath has been active with the Arthritis Foundation and many other initiatives and is dedicated to increasing awareness of the disease and informing patients about their treatment options.
There are approximately 43 million Americans with arthritis. More than 21 million of them have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, which is characterized by joint pain, swelling and stiffness, as well as a reduction in mobility.
Doctors, patients and others interested in the management of osteoarthritis can join the Arthritis Huddle by visiting www.arthritishuddle.com.
About MOBIC® (Meloxciam tablets)
MOBIC is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, and has been available in the U.S. since April 2000.
MOBIC is contraindicated in patients who have experienced asthma, itching or allergic type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs. Severe, rarely fatal, anaphylactic-like reactions to NSAIDs have been reported in such patients. As with all NSAIDs, serious GI toxicity such as inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine can occur at any time, without symptoms. As with other NSAIDs, MOBIC is not indicated for prevention of thromboembolic events and is not a substitute for aspirin or other drugs indicated for cardiovascular prophylaxis.
MOBIC was developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and is co-marketed with Abbott Laboratories. For more information, including full prescribing information, please visit www.mobictablet.com.
About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.
The Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 152 affiliates in 45 countries and more than 34,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2003, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of US $8.37 billion (7.4 billion euro) while spending more than one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.
For more information, please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com.
Contacts
John Yonsky
Communications & Public Relations
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
900 Ridgebury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Phone: (203) 798-4496
Fax: (203) 791-6442