Glen Mills, PA (PRWEB) — July 18, 2023 — ZOIA Pharma, the only medical food provider in the U.S. focused exclusively on supporting the rare disease community, has been acquired by Pentec Health, Inc. (Pentec), ensuring more people with rare conditions have improved access to a complete range of medical foods. That includes patients with phenylketonuria (PKU), who will now have access to the next-generation PKU GOLIKE® family of medical food products.
“There are about 10,000 active PKU patients who struggle to find a reliable supplier for their metabolic formula and low-protein food,” said David Lindsley, R.D., founder and chief executive officer of ZOIA Pharma. “ZOIA’s acquisition by Pentec expands our nationwide reach and increases accessibility of both medical formula and low-protein foods. This is great news for families living with PKU.”
The acquisition reaffirms Pentec’s commitment to expanding its medical foods services into emerging and underserved areas of clinical nutrition as a Complex Care Provider. Pentec is the exclusive U.S. distributor for Relief Therapeutics for the PKU GOLIKE family of products, the first prolonged-release, phenylalanine (Phe)-free medical foods for the dietary management of PKU for both children and adults. PKU is a rare inherited metabolic disorder requiring lifelong management. The acquisition by Pentec ensures ZOIA Pharma customers have access to this unique medical food, which was designed to mimic natural proteins and address common patient complaints about medical foods such as gastrointestinal (GI) upset, unpleasant flavor, aftertaste and bad breath.
“Working together, Pentec, ZOIA Pharma and Relief Therapeutics are helping to solve problems in the rare disease world to improve the health of people with these conditions,” said Matthew Deans, president and chief executive officer of Pentec. “We are an extension of the family’s care team and the combination of ZOIA’s expertise in medical foods and Pentec’s ability to support expanded coverage across Medicaid and other private insurance plans, increases availability, which is vital for patient access and adherence.”
About 16,500 people are living with PKU in the U.S., according to the National PKU Alliance. PKU is a genetic condition that prevents the body from breaking down Phe, which helps build protein in the body. The condition requires close adherence to a special low-protein diet to prevent behavioral problems, developmental delays and severe intellectual disability. The diet requires supplementation of amino acid-based medical foods to prevent protein deficiency and optimize metabolic control. Following the diet is challenging so ensuring access to a variety of medical foods is crucial to improve adherence, especially for children.
PKU GOLIKE is available in convenient pre-measured packets that can be added to a variety of foods and medical food bars that can be taken on the go. The PKU GOLIKE difference is an innovative, plant-based coating that turns free amino acids into prolonged-release granules with absorption rates more similar to natural proteins. The technology behind PKU GOLIKE also addresses common patient complaints about medical foods, such as unpleasant flavor, aftertaste and bad breath.
“The combination of Pentec and ZOIA Pharma is one of the most consequential developments in the past decade for the distribution of medical foods,” said Chris Wick, U.S. country lead at Relief Therapeutics. “The expanded reach and capabilities will enable us to serve more patients in the PKU community with PKU GOLIKE for years to come.”
Pentec’s acquisition of ZOIA Pharma and its selection as the exclusive distributor for PKU GOLIKE illustrate Pentec’s transformation into a Complex Care Provider, building on a foundation of excellence in patient-specific compounded, sterile medications and nutrition therapies delivered by highly trained and skilled nurses, pharmacists and dietitians, and supported by a dedicated patient services team that removes barriers to care.
About Pentec Health
Pentec Health is committed to solving and simplifying complex care challenges to better meet patient and provider needs. Pentec’s unique solutions, based on empathy, technical expertise, and clinical collaboration, deliver exceptional results through proven delivery models that reduce administrative burdens and improve outcomes through trusted, long-term relationships. Pentec Health serves more than 11,000 patients living with complex medical conditions, with care provided across the nation by more than 350 clinicians.
About ZOIA Pharma
ZOIA Pharma is a family-owned boutique medical supply company with more than 20 years of experience in medical sales and insurance reimbursement for rare diseases. Operated by a Registered Dietitian with a deep-rooted history of importing and selling enteral formula throughout the United States, ZOIA is relentless in making sure families receive formula that is prescribed by their healthcare professional.
