LONDON and TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies for rare and orphan diseases, today announced the appointment of Durbin, one of the world's leading specialist providers of Managed Access Programs, to manage the warehousing and supply chain for its products. Initially this agreement will cover Emmaus' pharmaceutical grade L-glutamine treatment (PGLG), which is currently under clinical development having completed its Phase 3 trial for the management of sickle cell disease (SCD).

Durbin will coordinate the distribution of PGLG through its Managed Access Program (MAP), which enables patients with a physician-assessed clinical need to receive the product before it is commercially available.

"Initial feedback from hematologists and the SCD community indicated that there will be requests for PGLG on a Named Patient or Early Access basis," said Yutaka Niihara, M.D., MPH, Chairman of Emmaus. "We believe our collaboration with Durbin will strengthen our logistical setup and improve our ability to answer the requests for PGLG in these markets outside of the U.S."

Durbin has over 20 years' experience in Named Patient and Early Access Programs, working with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to distribute products on a global scale.

"Durbin is looking forward to managing this program in filling the unmet need in the SCD field," said Leslie Morgan, CEO of Durbin. "We welcome the opportunity to contribute to improved patient care through access to PGLG in these markets. A project of this scale requires a specialist global distributor with regulatory experience, and our previous work, along with patient focus, positions us well for our partnership with Emmaus."

About Durbin

Durbin is one of the world's leading specialist distributors of pharmaceuticals, medical and relief supplies. Durbin is a global company with offices and warehouses, as well as project management and logistics expertise, in both the USA and EU Durbin distributes to over 180 countries and sources products from 64 different countries.

Durbin works in partnership with healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies, global charities and relief organisations across its specialist areas of; Managed Access Programe, supply of ethical unlicensed pharmaceuticals, global pharmaceutical distribution, relief goods, and Clinical Trial Supply goods.

Since the company's establishment over 50 years ago it has been awarded several high profile accolades, including being named National Champion at the European Business Awards 2014, and awarded the coveted International Business of the Year at the Business Excellence Awards 2012. For more information, please visit www.DurbinGlobal.com.

About Emmaus Life Sciences
Emmaus Life Sciences is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies for rare diseases. The Company's research on sickle cell disease was initiated by Dr. Niihara at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Emmaus' SCD therapy has Orphan Drug designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track designation from the FDA. For more information, please visit www.emmauslifesciences.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and potential commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in reports filed by Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Emmaus is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

For information regarding supply please contact:

Durbin at Emmaus@DurbinGlobal.com

For Emmaus Life Sciences
Media:
Lori Teranishi
510-290-6160
lteranishi@iq360inc.com 

Investors:
Matt Sheldon
310-279-5975
msheldon@pondel.com

For Durbin
Media:
Victoria Ellis | Sophie Davis
KISS PR
+44-1223 911 123
Victoria@kisscom.co.uk
Sophie@kisscom.co.uk

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SOURCE Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.