MONTREAL, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Pfizer Hemophilia is donating
more than 35 million IUs of its recombinant factor IX therapy to the
World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) to help hemophilia B patients in
underserved regions of the world.
"This donation has the potential to impact people living with hemophilia
B in more than 40 countries worldwide," said Alain Weill, WFH
president. "The WFH relies on these donations to advance our goal of
improving and introducing treatment in developing countries where care
might not otherwise be available. We are thankful for our continued
work with companies like Pfizer, which has historically made some of
the largest donations to our Humanitarian Aid program, which channels
donations of life-saving treatment products to people with bleeding
disorders who need them and supports our vision of Treatment for All."
"The product donation underscores our joint commitment to providing
hemophilia medicines in developing countries and hemophilia care around
the world," said Andrew Callos, Vice President, Commercial Development,
Pfizer. "We understand that overall care has improved for people living
with hemophilia, but significant disparities still exist, with about 75
per cent of people with bleeding disorders receiving inadequate
treatment or no treatment at all. It is our hope that, by partnering
with organizations like the WFH, Pfizer can help bridge the treatment
gap and continue providing access to hemophilia medicines for patients
who need them."
This donation and Pfizer's ongoing commitment will continue to
strengthen the WFH's Global Alliance for Progress (GAP) Program and
help provide those in need with valuable and life-saving medicines. In
addition to this initiative, Pfizer is the exclusive sponsor of the WFH
Twinning Program, a program that partners developing and developed
patient organizations or treatment centres. WFH's latest 50th anniversary film, Changing Lives Through Twinning, will be released by the WFH in early November. To learn more about the
WFH Twinning Program and GAP visit www.wfh.org.
About Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a type of bleeding disorder that causes the blood to take
a long time to clot, and occurs almost exclusively in males. Hemophilia
affects more than 400,000 people worldwide, an estimated 1 in 1000
women and men. People with hemophilia B have a deficiency in clotting
factor IX, a specific protein in the blood. Approximately one in 50,000
people globally have hemophilia B.People with hemophilia can experience uncontrolled internal bleeding
that can result from a seemingly minor injury. Bleeding into joints and
muscles causes severe pain and disability while bleeding into major
organs, such as the brain, can cause death.
About the World Federation of Hemophilia
For 50 years, the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), an international
not-for-profit organization, has worked to improve the lives of people
with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. Established in
1963, it is a global network of patient organizations in 122 countries
and has official recognition from the World Health Organization. Visit
WFH online at www.wfh.org.
SOURCE World Federation of Hemophilia