National non-profit NeedyMeds initiative provides localized disposal guidance and other useful information no matter where people live, work or visit.

Indianapolis, March 21, 2018 – Roche Diabetes Care Inc. today announced that the millions of people who use sharps outside of a healthcare facility each year in the United States may now access a series of consumer-friendly tools at SafeNeedleDisposal.org to help them get rid of used needles, lancets, auto-injectors and other medical sharps safely. Roche Diabetes Care is one of 10 biopharmaceutical and medical device companies providing support to NeedyMeds, the national non-profit organization that manages SafeNeedleDisposal.org and counsels people who use sharps, for this effort.

“Roche Diabetes Care is proud to support NeedyMeds, our national partner who is getting the right information about sharps disposal into the hands of those who need it most, no matter where they live, work or visit”, said Brad Moore, Head of Roche Diabetes Care, North America.  “Our business is built on helping patients take charge of their care, and SafeNeedleDisposal.org is an essential tool that can empower people who use sharps, while keeping them safe.”

According SafeNeedleDisposal.org, the vast majority of people who use sharps can dispose of them at home. To do so, patients should place used sharps in a strong, plastic container—like a laundry detergent or bleach bottle—seal the container with duct tape and label, “DO NOT RECYCLE,” and place the sealed container in the trash, never the recycling. Patients can learn if their location allows household disposal by visiting the website.

Research conducted for Roche Diabetes Care and other companies providing support to SafeNeedleDisposal.org shows that people who use needles and lancets to manage their medical conditions know it is their responsibility to safely dispose of the sharps, but lack clear, factual information on what to do. Much of the existing information does not personalize disposal guidelines to be relevant to people in every state.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency, sharps that are not disposed of properly may cause injury. In order to minimize risk and increase awareness about recommended disposal practices, SafeNeedleDisposal.org encourages visitors to click on their state or enter their ZIP code to learn about local disposal regulations and options.

SafeNeedleDisposal.org has been recognized by the FDA and other agencies as a leading source of information on safe sharps disposal. Roche Diabetes Care Inc. support for the NeedyMeds website ensures that even more people who use sharps will receive access to free safe disposal guidance and educational resources.

About Roche Diabetes Care

Roche Diabetes Care has been a pioneer in providing innovation in diabetes technology and services for more than 40 years, helping people with diabetes to live their lives as active and unrestricted as possible. Being a global leader in diabetes management, more than 5,000 employees in over 150 markets worldwide work every day to support people with diabetes and those at risk, caregivers and healthcare providers to optimally manage the condition – and more importantly achieve more time in the target range so they can experience true relief. Under the brand Accu-Chek and in collaboration with partners, Roche Diabetes Care creates value by providing integrated diabetes management solutions to monitor glucose levels, deliver insulin and track relevant data points for successful glucose management. By establishing a leading open digital platform, connecting devices and digital solutions, Roche Diabetes Care will enable personalised diabetes care and thus improve therapy outcomes. For more information please visit www.accu-chek.com.

About Roche

Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims for improving patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognised as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry eight years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2016 employed more than 94,000 people worldwide. In 2016, Roche invested CHF 9.9 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 50.6 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

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For more information please contact:
Anne Gill Head of Communications, Diabetes Care North America
Indianapolis, IN
Phone: 317.521.0500
[email protected]