Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
Thank you. (Operator Instructions) You have a question from the line of Salveen Kochnover of Collins Stewart. Please proceed.
Salveen Kochnover - Collins Stewart
Good afternoon, thanks for taking my question. Could you provide us with some color on the first quarter Kuvan new patient additions into the free drug program and just comments from physicians and patients and how the [extra launch] is progressing?
Steve Aselage
Sure, we have said publicly that referrals into BPPS were somewhat down from Q4 we’re continuing to add net new patients into the program now as reflected by the end-user demand. As far as xUS, Merck Serono has approval in [NAEU]. They have launched now in three countries but those launches took place I believe it was April 21 or 22. So it is really too soon to saying much about uptick of Kuvan in the European marketplace.
Salveen Kochnover - Collins Stewart
And can you maybe just give us a little bit more clarity as to why you think referrals are down versus the fourth quarter?
Steve Aselage
When we saw significant bullish referrals in the fourth quarter. Most of the PKU clinics worked on the assumption that the started our equivalent program would end on December 31, and it really worked very hard and pull some extra patients in to take advantage of that program. We had a number of centers that actually pull the patients in got them into BPPS but then at BPPS put the patients on hold until they can get them back into clinic and start them up again. I think we ended up in a situation where there was some backlog with patients from Q4 that rolled over in to Q1 to actually come in and go through the logistics of getting started and I believe that had some negative impact on Q1 referrals in.
Salveen Kochnover - Collins Stewart
Great. And then is there any chance for an interim look at the phase II PEG-PAL data on posted we repeat dosing?
Hank Fuchs
We’re really just finalizing design to that program and getting it started. So I think it will as we get clear on the program that we’re going to implement, I think we’ll give you an update then.
Salveen Kochnover - Collins Stewart
And then just one last question, whether the determining factors that you intend to take into consideration on deciding whether to continue with BH4 cardiovascular program going forward?
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