Emmaus Life Sciences Provides Update in Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

TORRANCE, Calif., March 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: EMMA), a leader in sickle cell disease (SCD) treatment, announced today several steps it has taken in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Within the overall SCD community, Emmaus is working in coordination with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and other organizations to educate and communicate with the SCD community during this challenging time. For more information, please visit: https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/2020/03/17/health-alert-for-patients ...

Emmaus is monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic daily to ensure its patients have an uninterrupted supply of Endari (L-glutamine oral powder). The company has not experienced any supply chain issues regarding its prescription grade L-glutamine and has sufficient finished goods inventory of Endari to support current and projected needs.

Emmaus wishes to assure the SCD community, patients, caregivers and clinicians that it has the infrastructure and systems in place to maintain the ability of its patients to stay on therapy. George Sekulich, Senior Vice President of Global Commercialization of Emmaus, stated, “Our patients are our first priority and we have invested heavily in our distribution network. We are confident the mail order and home delivery systems we have instituted with our specialty pharmacy network and GPO in-house dispensing clinics will continue to give our patients the highest level of service.”

As many other pharmaceutical and life sciences companies are reviewing their existing therapies and technologies, Emmaus is also exploring whether its prescription grade L-glutamine may be potentially beneficial to those patients with Coronavirus (COVID-19). Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emmaus, commented, “We are looking into the possibility of providing our prescription grade L-glutamine as part of the oral rehydration therapy (ORT) that some patients might need to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus and assist them in their recovery. A study regarding ORT has suggested that an oral hydration solution containing glutamine and glucose might be superior to conventional glucose ORT in viral enteritis, but further study is warranted to confirm that hypothesis.”