MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–Actress and activist Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, are continuing their partnership with Sumitomo Pharma America to raise awareness about overactive bladder (OAB) through a new campaign highlighting how the condition can affect everyday activities, including travel.
The pharmaceutical company has launched “Time To Go: Pit Stops with the Peetes,” the latest installment of its Time To Go campaign promoting awareness of overactive bladder and treatment options, including its prescription medication GEMTESA (vibegron).
The campaign follows the couple on a series of road trips as they discuss their personal experiences with OAB, the challenges of managing symptoms and how treatment with GEMTESA has helped them.
“Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. is proud to continue our partnership with Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete to raise awareness about overactive bladder and its symptoms in both men and women,” said Alana Darden Powell, Vice President of Biopharma Marketing at Sumitomo Pharma America. “With Time To Go: Pit Stops with the Peetes, we’re helping spotlight how OAB can interrupt everyday moments, from road trips to time with loved ones, and encouraging men and women to have conversations with their doctor about treatment options. Our hope is to reduce stigma surrounding bladder health and empower patients with the information they need to spend less time planning around their symptoms and more time enjoying the moments that matter.”
Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by sudden, difficult-to-control urges to urinate, frequent urination and, in some cases, involuntary urine leakage.
According to information cited by the company, nearly two in 10 men and women in the United States experience symptoms of overactive bladder. The condition can interfere with daily routines, social activities, work and travel.
GEMTESA is a prescription medication approved to treat symptoms of overactive bladder in adults, including urinary urgency, frequency and urge urinary incontinence. It is also approved for adult men taking medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who experience these symptoms.
Through the campaign, the Peetes describe how overactive bladder previously complicated their travel plans, often requiring them to locate bathrooms or make unexpected stops during trips.
Holly Robinson Peete said the condition sometimes made her anxious about traveling, particularly when she was in situations where access to a restroom might be limited.
“I’m excited to continue the partnership with GEMTESA and Sumitomo Pharma and to continue to raise awareness about this condition that impacts so many people,” said Holly Robinson Peete, actor and activist. “Traveling has always been one of my passions, and I used to worry about getting stuck in a crowded airport, plane, or being miles away from the nearest bathroom. Since starting GEMTESA, my symptoms have reduced significantly, and I don’t have to worry as much about going to the bathroom as often as I used to.”
Rodney Peete, who played quarterback in the NFL, also discussed how OAB affected the couple’s ability to enjoy road trips without frequent interruptions.
“Holly and I love taking road trips together but, in the past, because of my OAB, we often had to make unplanned stops – I even started carrying a ‘Travel John,’” said Rodney. “Now with symptom relief thanks to GEMTESA, I don’t have to worry about stopping so often to go to the bathroom and can be more in the moment with Holly.”
The Time To Go campaign is intended to encourage people experiencing symptoms of overactive bladder to discuss their condition with healthcare professionals and learn about available treatment options.
The new installment uses the couple’s experiences to highlight how urinary urgency and frequency can affect activities that many people take for granted, including long-distance travel and spending time with family.
The campaign also addresses the stigma surrounding bladder health, which can discourage some individuals from discussing symptoms or seeking medical attention.
Sumitomo Pharma America, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, develops and commercializes pharmaceutical treatments across several therapeutic areas.
The company’s continued collaboration with the Peetes is part of its broader effort to promote awareness of overactive bladder and encourage patients to seek medical advice about managing the condition.
