DENDREON Initiates Phased Return To Work Plan
Dendreon has been continuously monitoring the COVID-19 health crisis and making needed adjustments to ensure a safe working environment for our employees, contractors, partners and visitors. While we recognize that COVID-19 remains a public health concern, Dendreon has initiated a phased return to work plan for our locations in Seal Beach, California, Union City, Georgia, and Seattle, Washington, as well as field-based personnel.
A phased approach to the workplace
Dendreon has developed a multi-phased return to work plan that is individualized to the operational needs of our business, yet flexible enough to adapt to evolving recommendations from state and local governments. This gradual return to work will allow us to continue to limit access to our immunotherapy manufacturing facilities and protect our ability to make and supply PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) to the patients who need this life-extending therapy.
Protecting our employees and their families
One of our chief priorities is to ensure the health and safety of our employees – for their own well-being and that of their families. To reduce the risk of virus transmission we have implemented several protective measures for those employees returning to the physical workplace. These include continued “social distancing” and wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE). Many Dendreon employees, including field-based associates, will continue to work from home.
Working closely with cell protection partners
Dendreon continues to work with a large apheresis network to collect the cells needed to manufacture PROVENGE, and they are working diligently to keep the apheresis center as safe as possible for our patients and their employees. Many of our apheresis partners have taken additional measures to maintain patient safety in response to COVID‐19, including: following “social distancing” practices, use of appropriate PPE, screening incoming staff and donors, enhanced disinfecting practices, and management of incoming donor flow.
Working closely with lawmakers
We continue to engage public officials working to develop policies in response to COVID-19. We are advocating for policies that will protect men’s access to PROVENGE in a changing environment. We also are advocating for policies that support our skilled Dendreon team members to ensure they can care for themselves and loved ones while continuing to manufacture PROVENGE for men with advanced prostate cancer.
Indication
PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) is a prescription medicine that is used to treat certain patients with advanced prostate cancer. PROVENGE is made from your own immune cells.
Important safety information
Before getting PROVENGE, tell your doctor about all your medical problems, including problems with your heart or lungs, or if you have had a stroke
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements
PROVENGE is made from your own immune cells, collected approximately 3 days before each scheduled infusion of PROVENGE. The collection is called “leukapheresis” (pronounced loo-kuh-fuh-REE-sis). You will get PROVENGE in 3 intravenous infusions (put into your veins), about 2 weeks apart. Each infusion takes about 60 minutes. You will then be monitored for at least 30 minutes. Your doctor will give you a schedule for your cell collection and infusion appointments. It is very important that you arrive on time for your appointments
The most common side effects of PROVENGE include chills, fatigue, fever, back pain, nausea, joint ache, and headache. These are not all the possible side effects of PROVENGE treatment
PROVENGE infusion can cause serious reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you:
Have breathing problems, chest pains, racing heart or irregular heartbeats, high or low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, nausea, or vomiting after getting PROVENGE. Any of these may be signs of heart or lung problems
Develop numbness or weakness on one side of the body, decreased vision in one eye, or difficulty speaking. Any of these may be signs of a stroke
Develop symptoms of thrombosis which may include: pain and/or swelling of an arm or leg with warmth over the affected area, discoloration of an arm or leg, unexplained shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens on deep breathing
Get a fever over 100°F, or redness or pain at the infusion or collections sites. Any of these may be signs of infection
Tell your doctor about any side effect that concerns you or does not go away. For more information, talk with your doctor You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.