Shire Strives to Increase Adherence Among Chronic Kidney Disease Stage ...(o help with phosphate binder co...),Health

phosphate binder costs through Shire's partnerships with the

American Kidney Fund(R) and HealthWell Foundation(R).

- Eligible patients who fall into the Medicare Part D coverage gap and

who are in need of Medicaid assistance may receive FOSRENOL free of

charge.

As an additional component of the On Track initiative, Shire assembled an Adherence Task Force composed of renal dietitians and other HCPs with expertise in improving patient adherence. Recognizing the complexities of effectively managing hyperphosphatemia over the long term, Shire is working with these experts to evaluate the many factors impacting adherence to hyperphosphatemia management and develop effective, "real world" solutions.

"Nonadherence is an everyday issue that hinders our collective efforts to help patients remain on track," said Marianne Hutton, RD, CDE, instructor, Northern California Center for Well-Being. "By examining the wealth of techniques currently used to promote adherence among patients, the Adherence Task Force will develop resources and establish best practices to reduce our patients' difficulties following hyperphosphatemia treatment regimens and help them achieve success more easily."

One tool the Adherence Task Force believes can be useful to renal care teams as they work with their patients to develop individualized plans is the phosphate binding ratio (PBR). PBR signifies the number of grams of phosphorus bound by each gram of a particular medication. By knowing the PBR of the binder a patient is taking, HCPs can help patients make informed decisions about what they eat and the extent to which they can balance their diet and binder to achieve good phosphate balance. There are a variety of phosphate binders available for patients with hyperphosphatemia, and these medications have a range of PBRs based on their active ingredients. FOSRENOL is powered by lanthanum, which has a high PBR. '/>"/>