IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Webinar Regarding Rising Opioid Abuse Trends in Developing Babies

BRENTWOOD, TN –“On an almost daily basis I take care of women struggling with opioid addiction or dependency in pregnancy and the post-partum period.” Sarah Obican, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Subspecialist at the University of South Florida, knows she’s not alone as the opioid epidemic rages on in America. “I actively screen patients in early pregnancy and see them on our antepartum units.” It’s a crisis she and other birth defects experts from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) are trying to curb by offering the latest data surrounding opioid exposure in pregnancy and lactation during a free webinar held on January 24, 2018.

For those who missed the live webinar, a recording of it can be accessed for free at the following link (you’ll have to fill out a registration form before the recording will play): https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6698504499390044674

“The Opioid Epidemic: Its Impact on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding” webinar was a joint collaboration with the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and, in addition to OTIS, included presenters representing the Teratology Society and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The webinar covers an overview of the association of opioid use in late pregnancy and the risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), the risk for malformations and adverse neurobehavioral effects in fetuses exposed to opioids in-utero, as well as the effects of opioid exposure on the breastfed infant. CEUs are available, but only for members of the Prenatal SIG through the NSGC.

More about OTIS

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) is a professional scientific society made up of individuals engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding from environmental exposures. Members include, but are not limited to, specialists in the fields of: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To be connected with a MotherToBaby expert, please call (866) 626-6847, text questions to (855) 999-3525 (standard messaging rates might apply, check with your carrier) or visit www.MotherToBaby.org.

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Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@MotherToBaby.org.

Katherine L. Wisner, MD, MS, a long time OTIS member and perinatal psychiatrist, recently co-authored an op-ed in support of a new Illinois law set to take effect this summer that will address the legal liability women have when they commit criminal acts while suffering from severe postpartum mental illness. The op-ed was published in The Hill and can be read here.

The new law, a first of its kind, will highlight postpartum mental illness as a factor for judges to consider when determining an appropriate punishment for a crime. It will also allow women who were convicted of a felony, but did not have evidence of postpartum mental illness presented at their trial or sentencing, apply to reduce their sentence post-conviction. Because mood disorders, particularly depression, are common complications of childbearing, this law will focus on treatment rather than punishment for women convicted of a crime while suffering from the devastating effects of postpartum mental illness.

OTIS Offers Relief for Pharma Companies under Pressure to Update Labels with Pregnancy and Lactation Info

BRENTWOOD, TN –“It’s the first service of its kind to aid pharmaceutical companies in this way,” described Stephen Braddock, MD, a St. Louis-based pediatrician and dysmorphologist in reference to a new endeavor offered by birth defects experts at the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS). The unique offering aims to support the implementation of the FDA Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) pharmaceutical companies now must adhere to, creating an urgent need for fetal and lactation risk summaries on thousands of medications.

The PLLR implementation requires the revision of product labeling for all drugs approved after June 2001. “Thousands of prescription medications fall under the PLLR timeline over the next five years, an overwhelming task for many companies,” added Dr. Braddock, who also serves as the OTIS president. OTIS, Inc. is a wholly owned Benefit Corporation established by the non-profit OTIS. “OTIS experts can step in to provide current reviews of existing data and comprehensive risk summaries pharmaceutical companies are under pressure to produce.”

Thorough literature reviews, synthesis and translation of the data are all part of the
OTIS communication process already, according to Melissa Tassinari, PhD, a retired Sr. Clinical Advisor for the US Food and Drug Administration and founding PLLR project leader. “OTIS has been communicating pregnancy and lactation risk exposure through its MotherToBaby helpline service for more than 30 years,” explained Dr. Tassinari. “Pharmaceutical companies can now take advantage of that established expertise to save an enormous amount of time.”

Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist and OTIS, Inc. board ad hoc advisor said the process for assistance will begin with a quote, which pharmaceutical companies can request via MotherToBaby.org/OTISInc or by emailing contactus@otispregnancy.org. The rest of the literature review process will be carried out painlessly, timely and accurately. “To develop OTIS, Inc. we were supported by an advisory board comprised of the world’s leading experts in the area of prenatal risk exposure with extensive backgrounds in academia, research, government and industry to ensure that the highest quality product possible will be delivered,” she said.

The full OTIS, Inc. Board includes:

• Stephen R. Braddock, MD, OTIS President
• Melissa S. Tassinari, PhD, retired Sr. Clinical Advisor, US Food and Drug Administration
• Sarah G. Obican, MD, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
• Katherine L. Wisner, MD, MS, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Christina D. Chambers, PhD, MPH, OTIS President-Elect, Ex-Officio Member

OTIS, Inc. Advisory Board members include:

• Philip O. Anderson, Pharm D, Author of LactMed® database
• Gerald G. Briggs, B Pharm, FCCP, Co-Author of Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation
• Cheryl S. Broussard, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCBDDD
• Alicia B. Forinash, Pharm D, FCCP, BCPS, BCACP, Co-Author of Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation
• Jan M. Friedman, MD, PhD, TERIS Principal Investigator
• Janine E. Polifka, PhD, TERIS Project Director
• Anthony R. Scialli, MD, Reprotox® Director

To read more about the product service offered by OTIS, Inc., please see its digital prospectus here.

More about OTIS

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) is a professional scientific society made up of individuals engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding from environmental exposures. Members include, but are not limited to, specialists in the fields of: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@MotherToBaby.org.

OTIS Teams Up with Sister Societies to Address Rising Opioid Abuse Trends in Developing Babies

BRENTWOOD, TN –“On an almost daily basis I take care of women struggling with opioid addiction or dependency in pregnancy and the post-partum period.” Sarah Obican, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Subspecialist at the University of South Florida, knows she’s not alone as the opioid epidemic rages on in America. “I actively screen patients in early pregnancy and see them on our antepartum units.” It’s a crisis she and other birth defects experts from the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) are trying to curb by offering the latest data surrounding opioid exposure in pregnancy and lactation during a free webinar on January 24, 2018 at 11a Pacific/2p Eastern.

“The Opioid Epidemic: Its Impact on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding” webinar is a joint collaboration with the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and, in addition to OTIS, will include presenters representing the Teratology Society and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The webinar will cover an overview of the association of opioid use in late pregnancy and the risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), the risk for malformations and adverse neurobehavioral effects in fetuses exposed to opioids in-utero, as well as the effects of opioid exposure on the breastfed infant. The webinar is free, aimed at health care providers and researchers, but registration is required at the following link: http://bit.ly/OpioidWeb

“Being a part of the Utah Department of Health with access to its data, we are very much aware that overdoses and deaths from opioids have significantly increased over the past decade,” said Lynn Martinez, a teratogen information specialist with MotherToBaby Utah, an affiliate of the free service OTIS provides that answers the public’s questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Martinez, one of the webinar speakers, plans to address specific opioids clearly rising in popularity. “Fentanyl and buprenorphine have become more common exposures among those who contact us through MotherToBaby, so it’s important we take a closer look at what research is showing about their effects.”

Additionally, the risks from chronic use of opioids may not be the same as short term use, according to Beth Conover, APRN, CGC at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who is also one of the webinar presenters representing OTIS as well as the NSGC. “This is true for both pregnancy and breastfeeding,” she explained. “This is why it’s critical more health care providers recognize pregnancy risks seen with short-term and long-term use associated with opioid treatment in pregnancy,” she added.

The opioid webinar is expected to run approximately an hour and presenters will be available to answer questions from attendees.

More about OTIS

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) is a professional scientific society made up of individuals engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding from environmental exposures. Members include, but are not limited to, specialists in the fields of: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To be connected with a MotherToBaby expert, please call (866) 626-6847, text questions to (855) 999-3525 (standard messaging rates might apply, check with your carrier) or visit www.MotherToBaby.org.

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Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@MotherToBaby.org.