Mission Pharmacal's Citracal(R) to be Featured in Welcome Kit for Patients Taking a New Treatment for Paget's Disease of the Bone

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Pharmacal, a leading manufacturer of over-the-counter (OTC) calcium supplements, announced today that its Citracal(R) calcium citrate and vitamin D supplements will be featured in a "Welcome Kit" developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. The Welcome Kit is designed for patients prescribed a new Novartis treatment for Paget's disease of the bone to help them get started on a healthy calcium regimen when they receive the new treatment that is administered as a single dose infusion. Calcium and vitamin D are essential for maintaining good bone health and important to take in conjunction with certain prescription medicines that help to produce normal bone.

Paget's disease can be a progressive bone disorder that may result in pain, deformity or fractures due to excessive breakdown and formation in the regular bone-building process if left untreated. Paget's disease currently affects about one million people in the U.S.

The Novartis Welcome Kit will contain a 30-count sample bottle of Citracal calcium citrate with vitamin D supplement, and a money saving coupon toward the next purchase of Citracal calcium citrate with vitamin D supplement, as well as a Novartis consumer bone health brochure, health articles and hand lotion.

"We are pleased to be working with Novartis and featuring our product in the Welcome Kit. We think it sends an important message about the value of supplements and will help encourage patients to take adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D," said Bennett Kennedy, Brand Manager, Citracal.

"According to the USDA's Diet and Health Knowledge Survey, up to 75% of adults do not meet the recommended daily allowance of calcium from their diets. Fortunately, those who do not get enough from food can easily and conveniently incorporate calcium and vitamin D supplements into their daily routines to meet their requirements," Kennedy added.

Novartis will distribute the Welcome Kits to healthcare professionals for use by patients who will receive the new Novartis treatment for Paget's disease of the bone.

About Citracal(R) Calcium Citrate

Citracal(R) is the trademark name of a highly soluble calcium citrate supplement. Because it does not require stomach acid for absorption, Citracal(R) can be taken with or without food. It also has been shown not to increase the risk of kidney stone formation. Citracal(R) is a product of Mission Pharmacal, a pharmaceutical products company based in San Antonio, Texas. Go to http://www.citracal.com/ for more information on Citracal(R).

About Mission Pharmacal

Mission Pharmacal, the maker of Citracal, is a family-owned pharmaceutical company based in San Antonio, TX. For more than 60 years, the company has been dedicated to identifying unmet health needs in the marketplace and developing innovative prescription and over-the-counter products to meet them. Currently, Mission Pharmacal provides physicians and consumers with pharmaceutical, nutritional and diagnostic products.