rEVO Biologics Release: Study Reports Significant Increase In Incidence Of Preeclampsia, A Potentially Life-Threatening Pregnancy Complication

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A study published recently in the American Journal of Perinatology reports a dramatic increase in the incidence of preeclampsia in the United States. Preeclampsia and early onset preeclampsia have grown 67 percent and 140 percent respectively over the past two decades. The rise in this life-threatening condition outpaces that of some of the United States’ most challenging public health concerns, including diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. Preeclampsia is one of the top six causes of maternal mortality in the United States and is associated with infant death and potentially lifelong complications for the mother and newborn.

“This study demonstrates the growing impact of preterm preeclampsia on pregnant women, their newborns and society”

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that typically develops after 20 weeks gestation. Early onset preeclampsia is a severe form that occurs before 34 weeks gestation. The condition is characterized by high blood pressure and is thought to be the result of an abnormal interaction of the placenta with the mother’s cardiovascular and immune systems. Today, the only definitive treatment for preeclampsia is delivery of the newborn regardless of gestational age.

Mothers with preeclampsia account for approximately 10 percent of births before 34 weeks gestation. Preterm infants, particularly those born at or before 28 weeks, have a greater likelihood of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as higher rates of disability, cognitive delays and behavioral or psychological effects.

“This study demonstrates the growing impact of preterm preeclampsia on pregnant women, their newborns and society,” said Michael Paidas, M.D., Professor & Vice Chair, Obstetrics, and Director, Yale Women and Children’s Center for Blood Disorders and Preeclampsia Advancement, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine and a senior author of the study. “The importance of identifying an effective treatment to prolong pregnancy and treat preeclampsia cannot be underestimated.”

The study authors call for additional research and assessments to obtain greater understanding of the societal and economic impact of the disease.

The study was funded by rEVO Biologics Inc., a subsidiary of LFB Biotechnologies, and the sponsor of PRESERVE-1 (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Recombinant Human Antithrombin in Very Preterm Pre-Eclampsia), a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of antithrombin (Recombinant) in extending gestational age for women with early onset preeclampsia.

About rEVO Biologics
rEVO Biologics, Inc. (www.revobiologics.com) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of specialty therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in patients with rare, life-threatening conditions. The company’s lead product, ATryn, is the first and only plasma-free antithrombin concentrate. ATryn received FDA approval in 2009 for the prevention of peri-operative and peri-partum thromboembolic events in hereditary antithrombin deficient patients. The company has a number of products in its pipeline and is actively seeking additional indications for its lead product.

About LFB Group
The LFB Group is a biopharmaceutical group that develops, manufactures and markets medicinal products for the treatment of serious and often rare diseases in several major therapeutic fields, including hemostasis, immunology and intensive care. The LFB Group is the leading manufacturer of plasma-derived medicinal products in France and sixth worldwide and is also among the leading European companies for the development of new-generation medicinal products or treatments based on biotechnologies. The LFB Group is pursuing a growth strategy that seeks to extend its activities at the international level and develop innovative therapies. To that end, the LFB Group currently markets its products in more than 40 countries around the world with a global turnover of €501.9 million in 2014.