Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the expansion of its patient assistance program for intrauterine devices (IUD). The ARCH (Access and Resources for Contraceptive Health) program will provide Skyla® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) 13.5 mg and Mirena® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) 52 mg to low-income women who meet eligibility criteria. The ARCH program expands upon a previous patient assistance program, which was managed through an external foundation. The changes include the addition of Skyla and expanded eligibility guidelines to potentially provide IUDs to a greater number of appropriate patients.
"Bayer has always been dedicated to ensuring that cost is not a barrier for women who want to use our products," said Edio Zampaglione, MD, FACOG, Vice President, US Medical Affairs, Women's Healthcare, Bayer HealthCare. "The introduction of a new patient assistance program, managed by Bayer, will continue to provide access to important options for thousands of women who might not otherwise be able to afford an IUD."
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports unhindered and affordable access to all U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptives and, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), has determined that long-acting reversible contraception options, including IUDs, are among the most effective contraceptive methods currently available.
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