Massachusetts Addiction Specialist to Administer New FDA Approved VIVITROL® at 37 Clinical Locations across the State

BOSTON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Punyamurtula S. Kishore MD, MPH, FASAM, of Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc. (PMAI), the largest outpatient substance dependence provider in Massachusetts, announced today his 37 clinical locations will be offering new addiction treatment options through the use of VIVITROL^®(naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension), which was approved on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence.

“This news is a major breakthrough in addiction treatment”

Dr. Kishore and PMAI have been leading the charge with the use of VIVITROL since 2006, when it was first approved for the treatment for alcohol dependence. With new FDA approval, the once-monthly medication is now available for use to treat additional addiction behaviors. According to a press release issued on October 12 by the drug’s manufacturer, Alkermes, Inc., VIVITROL is now the first and only non-narcotic, non-addictive, once-monthly medication approved for the treatment of opioid dependence.

“This news is a major breakthrough in addiction treatment,” said PMAI Founder and President Punyamurtula S. Kishore. “At Preventative Medicine Associates, Inc. we are dedicated to providing our patients with proven and evidence-based treatment options to help them in their battle against alcohol and drug dependence. The FDA’s approval to administer this drug in a larger capacity allows for new addiction treatment options across the board. We were a leader with VIVITROL administration back in 2006, and we look forward to providing our patients even more enhanced treatment options today,” he added.

Across their 37 treatment centers in Massachusetts, PMAI treats 12,000 unique patients each year for substance dependencies among its network of addiction medicine providers with 144,000 patient visits per year. For more information about VIVITROL’s availability at PMAI locations, please contact Dr. Kishore at 1-800-770-1904 or for full prescribing information, including boxed warning, please visit www.vivitrol.com or call 1-800-VIVITROL.

Note: To request an interview with Dr. Kishore, or a current patient using VIVITROL, please contact Arika Beaudry of Regan Communications at 617-488-2890 or abeaudry@regancomm.com.

About Punyamurtula S. Kishore MD, MPH, FASAM

Punyamurtula S. Kishore MD, MPH, FASAM has been a practicing public health scientist for over 30 years. He began as a primary care/family practice physician then became the last Medical Director of the Washingtonian Center for Addiction. Over the past year he has presented at the Vermont Conference on Addiction disorders, NIDA Blending Conference in Albuquerque, NM, and the NADCP Conference in Boston, MA and will be presenting this fall at the AATOD Conference in Chicago, IL, ISAM Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, and the TCA Conference in Washington, DC. He currently owns and operates 32 primary care practices throughout the state of Massachusetts specializing in addiction medicine and quality care.

About Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc.

Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc. is a group of family practices located through Massachusetts, focused on bringing the best care to their patients and community. Their doctors and staff are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases and conditions, and manage both common and complex problems. They are also trained to prevent, diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments affecting patients of all ages. Preventive Medicine Associates doctors work in the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles and research for disease and injury prevention. For more information visit preventivemedicineassociates.net.