Getting Started on Ventavis Inhalation Solution

Starting you on the right path with Ventavis

PAH Pathways® serves as the one point of contact for Actelion services and support programs. This comprehensive program—available at no cost to you—helps you every step of the way by providing information and assistance with:

  • Access to Ventavis (iloprost)—to make sure you get your medicine in a timely manner
  • Insurance information and financial assistance—to help find the answers you need and help pay for your medicine, if eligible

Through Actelion's Patient Services Department, you'll also have access to a dedicated team of nurse educators—including Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapists.

An Actelion Nurse Educator can be reached from Monday through Friday, 12 pm-8 pm (ET)/9 am-5 pm (PT) at 1-866-ACTELION (1-866-228-3546). When prompted, press option #6 and then extension 814008.

Starting on Ventavis (iloprost)

Your Ventavis prescription comes with resources from Actelion, maker of Ventavis. Follow these steps to learn what you can expect while getting started on treatment.

Getting Started

1. Healthcare provider prescribes Ventavis (iloprost): The process starts when your doctor's office sends your completed Ventavis enrollment form to Actelion.

2. Actelion contacts you: After receiving your enrollment form, Actelion provides support services through PAH Pathways and the Patient Services Department. They'll help you get started on treatment.

A PAH Pathways Case Manager:
  • Coordinates communications between the specialty pharmacy, your doctor, and your insurance company to make sure your prescription gets filled as soon as possible
A Patient Services Nurse Educator:
  • Contacts you to discuss starting Ventavis and answer any questions you may have
  • Helps answer your questions about Ventavis or the I-neb AAD System
  • Updates you from time to time about new information related to treatment with Ventavis
  • Mails you a Ventavis Welcome Folder

3. Your specialty pharmacy takes action:

  • Obtains insurance approval and determines your benefit status for Ventavis and the I-neb AAD System
  • Notifies your of your out-of-pocket expenses
  • Provides information on financial assistance, if eligible†
  • Sends your Ventavis prescription and the I-neb AAD System directly to you
  • Sets up a training session between you and a Ventavis-trained nurse

If at any time you have a problem with your I-neb AAD System (for example, your I-neb AAD System is not working), you can call your specialty pharmacy. They're available 24 hours a day:

Accredo Therapeutics™—1-866-344-4874

CVS/Caremark—1-877-242-2738

4. The specialty pharmacy nurse meets with you: The Ventavis-trained specialty pharmacy nurse helps you understand how to take Ventavis with the I-neb AAD System. This training session can take place at your home or in a doctor's office.

5. You receive ongoing support: Remember, Actelion is dedicated to helping you with your treatment. A support team is waiting to help you with answers to your questions about treatment with Ventavis and the I-neb AAD System.

Support is a phone call away. Just call Actelion toll free at 1-866-ACTELION (1-866-228-3546), Monday through Friday, 9 am-8 pm (ET)/6 am-5 pm (PT). When prompted, press #2.

Read about:

†You may contact the Caring Voice Coalition (CVC), a third party non-profit organization that offers a PAH* copay assistance program for eligible patients (1-888-267-1440 or visit www.caringvoice.org).

*Patient Indication and Important Safety Information

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*What is Ventavis?

Ventavis is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with certain kinds of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition in which blood pressure is too high in the blood vessels between the heart and the lungs. Ventavis may improve your ability to exercise and your symptoms for a short time by lowering your blood pressure and opening up the blood vessels in your lungs.

  • In the key clinical study, Ventavis showed clinical improvement as defined by 3 specific measurements: ability to exercise as measured by the 6-minute walk test, symptoms (NYHA Functional Class), and decrease in the worsening of PAH symptoms.
  • Ventavis is a medication you breathe in through a special device called the I-neb Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) System.

The study showing Ventavis is effective included mainly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV PAH. In these patients, PAH was caused by unidentified or hereditary factors (65%) or connective tissue diseases (23%).

Ventavis has not been studied in children younger than 18 years old.

What is the most important information I should know about Ventavis?

Ventavis may not be right for you. Before taking Ventavis, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you have liver or kidney problems; are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant; or are breast-feeding. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart problems or medicines that lessen blood clotting (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven). Ventavis and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects.

What are the possible side effects of Ventavis?

  • Ventavis may cause side effects, including feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and faint. If you have any of these side effects, you should stand up slowly when you get out of chairs or bed. Tell your doctor if your fainting gets worse during treatment with Ventavis. Your doctor may need to change your dose or treatment.
  • Do not drive a car or operate any tools or machines if dizziness or fainting from low blood pressure is a problem for you.
  • You may have trouble breathing after taking Ventavis, because it may cause the muscles around your airway to tighten (bronchospasm). Get emergency help right away if you have trouble breathing.
  • The most common side effects of Ventavis include red face (flushing), increased cough, low blood pressure, headaches, nausea, spasm of your jaw muscles that makes it hard to open your mouth, and fainting.

Talk to your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Ventavis. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information

For more information about Ventavis, please call 1-866-ACTELION (1-866-228-3546).