With a newborn baby and a professional golf career, Azahara (Aza) Muñoz doesn’t want the symptoms of hypothyroidism to slow her down.
That’s why she’s teaming up with IBSA Pharma as a spokesperson for the company's Tirosint-SOL med, which helped her “regain control over her symptoms,” she explained in a press release.
Muñoz suffers from Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a condition that can cause the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism as it attacks a person’s thyroid gland causing muscle aches, fatigue and depression.
IBSA markets Tirosint-SOL, a liquid form of levothyroxine. A tablet form of this drug has been on the market as a generic for decades, but IBSA sells the drug under this new drug delivery system, promoting it as being better absorbed by patients.
“Before Tirosint-SOL, I tried taking conventional thyroid hormone tablets, but I never felt like myself. My body ached, and practicing golf was so tough because I was always tired,” said Muñoz. “Since I started taking Tirosint-SOL, it’s been a game-changer.
“I’m excited to wake up every morning knowing I actually have the energy to practice my golf game and to play with my newborn son. I’m back in full swing—both on and off the course. I’m ready for my return to competition.” Muñoz started taking the drug last year.
As IBSA's spokesperson, Muñoz will appear at in-person events and on social media and will wear the Tirosint-SOL logo on the sleeve of her golf attire, according to the release.
Golfers are a favorite sport for pharma marketers, it seems. Muñoz joins several other high-profile athletes who have teamed up as drug and testing spokespeople. For example, AstraZeneca earlier this year teamed up with pro golfer Jason Day to talk about the importance of biomarker cancer testing.
And, five years ago, Endo tapped PGA golf pro Tim Herron to talk about hand deformity Dupuytren’s contracture, for which the company markets the drug Xiaflex.
In fact, Muñoz marks the second golfer IBSA itself has turned to this year alone. In March, the company took on PGA golfer James Hahn as its spokesman for the Licart pain therapy, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug patch, which won FDA approval in late 2020 for acute pain from minor strains, sprains and bruises.