Emmaus Life Sciences, a leader in sickle cell disease treatment has announced that it has signed an agreement with Express Scripts, one of the nation's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBM).  This agreement complements Emmaus's agreements with other PBMs, such as OptumRx, as well as with the nation's largest drug wholesalers and distributors and will help ensure that patients in need have access to Emmaus's Endari (L-glutamine oral powder), indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older. 

Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emmaus, commented: "Sickle cell disease patients represent an underserved and often untreated population.  We are grateful that Express Scripts will help bring Endari to patients who are suffering from painful 'crises' and frequent hospitalizations."

Mark Diamond, Vice President of Commercialization for Emmaus, added: "We continue to make excellent progress removing barriers for patients and making it easier for physicians to prescribe Endari. We have been extremely focused, working with all stakeholders involved in helping individuals with sickle cell disease."

Navigating the maze of our nation's health care system is as daunting a task for sickle cell disease patients as it is for any other group.  Pharmacy benefits managers serve an important role in the process by which patients get prescriptions, coverage and medications. 

Emmaus Life Sciences is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, marketing and sale of innovative treatments and therapies, including those in the rare and orphan disease categories. Its lead prescription product, Endari, demonstrated positive clinical results in a completed Phase 3 clinical trial for sickle cell disease and received FDA approval in July 2017.