Beneath the Surface: A Patient’s ATTR-Cardiac Amyloidosis Story and Morgan Freeman’s Call for Awareness
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Please see Important Safety Information for Attruby® (acoramidis) below. Visit Attruby.com for thePatient Information andFull Prescribing Information for Attruby.
Actor and advocate Morgan Freeman has taken on many defining roles throughout his career, often guiding audiences with wisdom and his signature calming voice. As he approaches his 90s, Freeman is embracing a different role: championing healthy aging and raising awareness about ATTR-cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM), a serious and progressive heart condition that can be difficult to recognize and is commonly misdiagnosed.
ATTR-CM has a way of lurking just beneath the surface. It can often escalate quietly - a fatigue that lingers, shortness of breath, weakness, or nerve pain that is easy to brush off or attribute to other causes.
While Freeman does not have ATTR-CM, his own experience with a heart condition made him realize how subtle symptoms can often be overlooked. "As we age, rare heart conditions like ATTR-CM can hide in plain sight," he cautions.
Larry, a retired schoolteacher from California, knows this firsthand. His small health changes didn't seem pressing at first. Everything was smooth sailing; he was enjoying golfing, hiking, and traveling with his wife. Unaware that the tides would soon change, he described this chapter of his life as "calm and steady, like sitting on a beach where the water was clear and the waves barely stirred."
A few years ago, Larry and his wife embarked on an Alaskan cruise adventure gearing up for glaciers and sunny skies, but when simple acts like exploring the ship and climbing stairs left him winded, he knew a trip to his cardiologist was in order. Having suffered a heart attack a decade prior, he worried that something concerning was unfolding beneath the surface.
After further testing, Larry received the diagnosis: ATTR-CM. "I was shocked, scared, and devastated. The days of calm, clear waters on a quiet beach were gone. There was a shark in the water ... but having a diagnosis meant I could face this animal head on," he says.
In people with ATTR-CM, their transthyretin (TTR), which is a protein that supports many important tasks in the body (including transporting vitamin A and the hormone thyroxine), becomes unstable, breaks down, and reforms as amyloid fibrils. The amyloid fibrils can then build up in the body, which can thicken the walls of the heart, preventing it from working as it should.
The early days after his diagnosis were filled with uncertainty. Like many newly diagnosed patients, he was overwhelmed, contemplating the next steps and worrying about the future. Finally, Larry decided to join a support group, a decision he would later describe as "one of the best things he did." That's where he learned about the treatment Attruby® (acoramidis). Attruby is a prescription medicine shown to help adults with ATTR-CM live longer and have fewer hospitalizations due to heart issues. Larry was inspired by the stories and impact he heard others describe at the support group meeting. After hearing other people's experiences with ATTR-CM and Attruby, Larry asked his cardiologist whether Attruby might be right for him, and his cardiologist walked him through the data. Through those conversations, Larry learned about how lab tests showed that Attruby helped stabilized the bonds of the TTR protein quickly, in as early as 4 weeks and sustained through the end of the 30-month clinical study in people with wild-type and hereditary ATTR-CM. Lab results are not a direct indicator of clinical benefit.
He learned that at 30 months, people treated with Attruby did significantly better than those not taking Attruby based on a combined measure of survival and hospitalizations due to heart issues. He also learned that the most common side effects - such as abdominal pain and diarrhea - were mild, and that for most people, these side effects went away without having to stop Attruby. Together with his cardiologist, they decided to start Attruby.
"Attruby has worked well for me so far," Larry says. "My cardiologist has noticed that the progression of my ATTR-CM has slowed since starting treatment." Everyone responds to treatment differently, so it's important for people to consult with their doctor.
"When there are things outside of my control, I try to appreciate what I have. I still play golf; I just ride in a cart instead of walk. I still climb stairs; I just have to stop occasionally," says Larry. "I can't control that I have ATTR-CM, but taking Attruby gives me a sense that I'm doing something about my situation," he adds.
Larry's story is a source of inspiration for Freeman, who draws from experiences like his to encourage greater awareness, education, and open conversations about ATTR-CM. "Sometimes, speaking up and asking questions of your doctor can make the difference," he suggests. "If you suspect something's not right, don't wait. Getting the right treatment and support early can help you focus more on living for what you love."
If you experience the signs and symptoms of ATTR-CM - including shortness of breath, swelling in the feet or legs, carpal tunnel syndrome, digestive issues, weakness, nerve pain, and irregular heartbeat - talk to your healthcare provider today and learn more about ATTR-CM and Attruby at https://www.attruby.com.
What is Attruby?
Attruby is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a disease that affects the heart muscle called cardiomyopathy of wild-type or variant transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM), to reduce death and hospitalization related to heart problems.
It is not known if Attruby is safe and effective in children.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Before taking Attruby, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of Attruby?
The most common side effects of Attruby were mild and include:
• diarrhea
• stomach-area (abdominal) pain
These are not all of the possible side effects of Attruby.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
For the Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Attruby, visit Attruby.com/PI
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Source: BrandPoint
