To All:
Follow-up release from Matria regarding an old lawsuit that Matria had filed against the women's group that complained to the FDA about health services Matria provides to women in their own home.
GM
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MARIETTA, Ga., Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Matria Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: MATR) today announced that it has dismissed without prejudice the lawsuit filed in January, 1997 against the National Women's Health Network ("NWHN") in the Superior Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia. Matria continues to believe in the merits of its claim against the NWHN and does not believe, as contended by the NWHN, that the recent letter from the FDA in response to the NWHN's petition concerning the use of terbutaline as a tocolytic to prevent or prolong preterm labor disposes of the merits of the case. Nonetheless, Matria has decided to dismiss the suit.
Matria stated that the litigation arose following the inflammatory comments by the NWHN at the time of their filing of the petition with the FDA. The Company believes the actions by the NWHN were both a disservice to the health of women at risk of preterm delivery and damaging to Matria. The Company further stated that the treatment of these women is and should be a matter between the patient and their treating physician. They should not be subjected to unnecessary stress simply because the tocolytic drug prescribed by their doctor, while approved by the FDA for use with asthmatics, is being utilized "off-label" in an attempt to prolong or prevent preterm labor. This is particularly true when the drug in question -- terbutaline -- is the most widely prescribed form of tocolytics in the United States. According to the FDA, terbutaline is prescribed approximately eight to eleven times more than Yutopar (ritodrine), the only FDA approved tocolytic.
Donald R. Millard, President and CEO of Matria, stated, "Unfortunately, this litigation has been misconstrued by some as an attack by Matria on women's advocacy groups and their rights to free speech, rather than as an attempt by Matria to remedy the harm caused by those within the healthcare community who have attempted to discourage the type of cost-effective home care services to obstetrical patients available from Matria, while promoting the more costly delivery of similar services in the hospital environment. The safety and well-being of patients receiving our services is and has always been our primary concern. Matria remains dedicated to and highly supportive of issues concerning women's health. Consequently, we have reluctantly decided not to go forward with the lawsuit at this time, rather then have Matria's intentions on these issues of women's health misinterpreted."
Matria Healthcare is the leading provider of comprehensive obstetrical homecare and maternity management services to HMOs, indemnity carriers and employers.
SOURCE Matria Healthcare, Inc.
CO: Matria Healthcare, Inc.; National Women's Health Network
ST: Georgia
IN: HEA
SU:
11/26/97 15:04 EST prnewswire.com
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