Photography Contest Kicks Off in New York City
NEW YORK, April 16 // -- Broadway actress and HIV advocate Sheryl Lee Ralph today unveiled the winning photographs of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's (NYSE: BMY) REYATAZ(R) (atazanavir sulfate) "Fight HIV Your Way" Photography Contest. The contest was developed to provide individuals whose lives have been touched by HIV with a way to express their feelings and emotions about their personal experience with the disease. The grand prize winning photograph and 50 second place photographs will be showcased in a public exhibit in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal in New York City from today until April 18. The exhibit will subsequently be displayed in select cities across the U.S.
Howard Grant of Oakland, California, a retired architect and proud father of two, submitted the grand prize winning photograph. Grant's description of his photograph submission captures the strength he found to overcome personal obstacles: "I felt boxed in by concepts such as 'terminal illness,' 'damaged goods,' 'poz/neg.' The bravery and compassion of friends liberated me to pursue new paths and passions. All I had to do was face a new direction and step out of the box." Grant will be honored at a special gala opening this evening.
"Each photograph in the exhibit is a piece of art that tells a thought- provoking story about the wide variety of experiences people have with HIV today," said original Broadway Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph, a spokesperson for the National Minority AIDS Council who also created and produced the HIV- inspired Broadway shows Divas Simply Singing! and Sometimes I Cry. "In my own work as an artist and advocate, I encourage breaking the silence around HIV, reducing the stigmas associated with HIV, and supporting the many ways that people fight this disease each and every day. I salute the winners of the REYATAZ 'Fight HIV Your Way' Photography Contest for the hope and strength that their art inspires in me and others."
"Twenty years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first HIV treatment, Bristol-Myers Squibb created the REYATAZ Photography Exhibition as a way for people to reflect on the advancements that allow people today to fight HIV their way," said Anthony Hooper, president, U.S. Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. "Bristol-Myers Squibb is proud that each photograph in the exhibit provides an example of what inspires real people to fight HIV day in and day out."
Photographs were judged based on the artists' depiction of the fight against HIV, creativity and originality, and overall quality. The expert panel of judges included: Vincent Laforet, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer; Regan Hofmann, editor-in-chief, POZ magazine; and Dwight Powell, editor-in-chief, Clik magazine.
A total of 101 winning photographs will be published in a limited edition hardcover book titled In Their Own Way: A Collection of Personal Photography on Fighting HIV.
During the months of May and June, the exhibit will be displayed in select cities including:
-- Washington, D.C.;
-- Miami Beach, Florida;
-- Venice Beach, California; and
-- San Francisco, California.
For more information on the REYATAZ "Fight HIV Your Way" Photography Contest, please visit http://www.reyatazphotocontest.com.
REYATAZ does not cure HIV or help prevent passing HIV to others. Please see Indication and Important Safety Information about REYATAZ on the next page.
Important Information about REYATAZ(R) (atazanavir sulfate) 200 mg/300 mg Capsules
REYATAZ (atazanavir sulfate) is a prescription medicine used in combination with other medicines to treat people who are infected with HIV and has been studied in 48-week trials in both patients who have taken or have never taken anti-HIV medicines. REYATAZ does not cure HIV or prevent passing HIV to others.
REYATAZ should not be taken with the following medicines: ergot medicines, Versed(R) (midazolam hydrochloride), Halcion(R) (triazolam), Orap(R) (pimozide), Propulsid(R) (cisapride), Camptosar(R) (irinotecan hydrochloride), Crixivan(R) (indinavir sulfate), Mevacor(R) (lovastatin), Zocor(R) (simvastatin), rifampin, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), AcipHex(R) (rabeprazole sodium), Nexium(R) (esomeprazole magnesium), Prevacid(R) (lansoprazole), Prilosec(R) (omeprazole), or Protonix(R) (pantoprazole sodium). Viagra(R) (sildenafil citrate), Levitra(R) (vardenafil HCl), Cialis(R) (tadalafil), Vfend(R) (voriconazole), Advair(R) (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder), Flonase(R) (fluticasone propionate), or Flovent(R) (fluticasone propionate) should not be used while taking REYATAZ without first speaking with a healthcare provider. This list of medicines is not complete. The use of all prescription and non- prescription medicines, vitamin and herbal supplements, or other health preparations should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
The following side effects, symptoms, or conditions should be reported to healthcare providers right away: a change in the way the heart beats may occur and could be a symptom of a heart problem; diabetes and high blood sugar may occur in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ; yellowing of the skin and/or eyes may occur due to increases in bilirubin levels in the blood (bilirubin is made by the liver); rash (redness and itching) sometimes occurs in patients taking REYATAZ, most often in the first few weeks after the medicine is started, and usually goes away within two weeks with no change in treatment; in patients with liver disease, including hepatitis B or C, the liver disease may get worse when taking anti-HIV medicines like REYATAZ; and some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding problems with protease inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ. Kidney stones have been reported in patients taking REYATAZ. Signs or symptoms of kidney stones include pain in your side, blood in your urine, and pain when you urinate.
Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking anti-HIV medicines. The cause and long-term effects are not known at this time. Other side effects of REYATAZ taken with other anti-HIV medicines include: nausea, headache, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, fever, dizziness, trouble sleeping, numbness, and tingling or burning of hands or feet. REYATAZ should be taken once daily with food (a meal or snack). REYATAZ and other anti-HIV medicines should be taken exactly as instructed by healthcare providers. United States Full Prescribing Information for REYATAZ is available at http://www.REYATAZ.com.
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