May 27 2011
ViroPharma Incorporated (NASDAQ: VPHM) today announced the launch of the documentary Swell, a twenty-five minute film that allows families dealing with the rare genetic swelling disease, hereditary angioedema (HAE), to share the challenges and triumphs of living with a chronic disorder. Swell also explores the perspective of physicians that manage HAE, often times through many generations of the same family.
The film website also contains important resources for anyone touched by the disease, or those who want to better understand the everyday life of these extraordinary people. The site will be updated with new video footage and information on a regular basis.
"Over the past few years, everyone at ViroPharma has been touched, humbled and motivated by people living with this rare, devastating condition," stated Kristina Broadbelt, ViroPharma's associate director of global public relations and advocacy. "Those interactions had so much impact, we thought it important to find a way to share the stories of strength, courage and perseverance with as large an audience as possible," continued Broadbelt.
ViroPharma tapped award winning documentary film-maker, Marc Brodzik, and his production company Woodshop Films (www.woodshopfilms.com) of Philadelphia, PA to produce, shoot and direct the film. Unlike the traditional patient video format, the film was shot with the Cinema verite approach, combining naturalistic techniques with low fi stylized cinematic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to help uncover the true nature of its subjects.
"I was very excited to participate in this important project," said Dr. David Hurewitz, an allergist/immunologist at the Allergy Clinic of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla. "Raising awareness of rare disorders is critically important, and may help in the diagnosis of the disease. In addition, a film like this can help assure those dealing with such a rare condition that they are not alone."
SOURCE ViroPharma Incorporated
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