In a major effort to broaden access to medicines and health care information, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) debuts its revamped Spanish-language Web site today featuring newly named spokeswoman Mayte Prida.

The new site, phrma/espanol or nuestraphrma, includes patient-friendly information on health topics and issues of particular concern to Hispanic audiences. Ms. Prida, nationally recognized for her work in Hispanic television, will help raise awareness of health issues in the Hispanic community by serving as the face of PhRMA's Hispanic outreach efforts as well as writing a monthly column for the site.

In addition, Ms. Prida -- a breast cancer survivor -- has been named a national spokeswoman for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) and will be traveling the country on behalf of the program.

"The re-launch of our Spanish-language Web site and our renewed emphasis on outreach to the Hispanic community shows PhRMA's 100% commitment to making certain language is not a barrier to access to prescription medicines," said Billy Tauzin, PhRMA President and CEO. "With Mayte Prida leading our efforts, we know the information and education we provide is both culturally relevant and ultimately helpful to the growing Hispanic population in the United States."

Hispanic outreach efforts also will include new elements on the Web site, a monthly column authored by Mayte Prida, and a new advertising campaign highlighting Ms. Prida that is scheduled to air in September 2006 on Spanish- language television stations and networks.

As spokeswoman, Ms. Prida will draw on her diverse background to reach out to the Hispanic community. Ms. Prida was born in Mexico City and, in her professional life, has gone from the newsroom to the recording studio, and later to creating, producing and anchoring a wide variety of television shows. In addition to running her own production company, Diva Digital Pictures, she also is a cancer survivor and author of "A Difficult Journey, My Battle With Cancer." Currently, Mayte Prida appears at Entre Amigas, as part of the national TV morning show Cada Dia with Telemundo.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $39.4 billion in 2005 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry wide research and investment reached a record $51.3 billion in 2005.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
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