CARY, NC--(Marketwired - July 07, 2016) - Approximately 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke every year, according to the Center for Disease Control. To help individuals understand the warning signs of a stroke, Chiesi USA sponsored a stroke awareness night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Chiesi USA, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cary and operating globally, and the local baseball team supported the national Strike Out Stroke campaign during one of the highest-attended games of the season in order to send the lifesaving message to baseball fans.

"The CDC reports stroke as the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 130,000 people each year and leaving thousands more with serious, long-term disabilities," said Josh Franklin, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development, Chiesi USA. "A stroke can happen at anytime to anyone regardless of age, sex or race, which is why raising awareness is so critical. By partnering with the Durham Bulls, we hope more individuals in the community become aware of Strike Out Stroke's educational F.A.S.T. message to recognize the symptoms of stroke in time."

Strike Out Stroke's F.A.S.T. acronym, which stands for Face, Arm, Speech and Time, refers to both the urgency of a stroke and the warning signs of a stroke: when someone's face is drooping, their arms are weak or immobile, or their speech is jumbled, slurred or lost, then it is time to call 911.

Chiesi USA, Inc.

Chiesi USA, Inc., headquartered in Cary, N.C., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing products for the hospital and adjacent specialty markets. Key elements of the Company's strategy are to focus its commercial and development efforts in the hospital and adjacent specialty product sector within the U.S. pharmaceutical marketplace; continue to seek opportunities to acquire companies, marketed or registration-stage products and late-stage development products that fit within the Company's focus areas; and generate revenues by marketing approved generic products through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aristos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Chiesi USA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. For more information, visit www.chiesiusa.com.

Strike Out Stroke

Strike Out Stroke was born out of the nonprofit organization, Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp, which began 10 years ago by Marylee Nunley and her husband John, a stroke survivor. Through their work, they found there was a great need in stroke education across the country, and thus the idea for Strike Out Stroke was born. The simple mission of Strike Out Stroke is to spread the F.A.S.T message and greatly increase the number of stroke survivors who get to the hospital in time to get lifesaving treatment. Strike Out Stroke continues to grow every summer, reaching over 20 professional baseball markets along with planning and creating new stroke awareness campaign across the country. For more information, visit www.strikeoutstroke.com.

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