Pfizer reinforces commitment to patients living with haemophilia

In reinforcing its longstanding commitment to haemophilia awareness while driving home the need for innovation in access to haemophilia treatments, Pfizer held a media round table to commemorate World Hemophilia Day.

Pfizer’s goal to make sure patients living with haemophilia are seen, heard, and never forgotten as it continues to work tirelessly to find breakthrough solutions and therapeutic options to change their lives was reiterated at the media roundtable.

Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Pfizer commented, “Pfizer’s efforts at advancing treatment for haemophilia and bridging gaps in access to care resonates with this year’s theme of World Hemophilia Day’s (WHD) Access For All: Prevention of Bleeds.

“Pfizer’s commitment to equity and continued investment in haemophilia is evident in its more than 30 years of experience in developing therapies for haematological disorders as it has a deep understanding of the significant challenges that people living with haemophilia continually face.

“Therefore, we will continue to amplify and celebrate the work of the global haemophilia community as we create awareness of the need for innovation in access to haemophilia treatments.”

Prof. Akanmu Sulaimon, Professor of Hematology and Blood Transfusion at the University of Lagos said: “Hemophilia, a rare genetic bleeding disorder that causes the blood to take a long time to clot because of a deficiency in one of several blood clotting factors, is almost exclusively found in males.

“People with haemophilia are at risk for excessive and recurrent bleeding from modest injuries, which have the potential to be life-threatening. People with severe haemophilia often bleed spontaneously into their muscles or joints, rarely into critical closed spaces such as the intracranial space, where bleeding can be fatal.

“According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, an international not-for-profit organization, more than 38,000 people worldwide were living with haemophilia B in 2021. WFH works closely in partnership with haemophilia treatment centres (HTCs) in 29 African countries to share knowledge and build global awareness through information exchange, education, and training.

“WFH also provides ∼24 million units of CFCs annually to patients in sub-Saharan Africa through a humanitarian aid program. Pfizer is a visionary partner of the World Federation of Hemophilia for WHD.”

Dr Vivian Painstil, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Child Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)in Kumasi and a Senior Specialist Paediatrician working at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi said: “The burden people living with haemophilia B face is significant, with many receiving routine infusions or injections which can interfere with their ability to take part in day-to-day activities that many take for granted,” said.

“The BENEGENE-2 data demonstrate the promise of this gene therapy candidate as a potential one-time option for people living with haemophilia B as a means of reducing the clinical and treatment burden over the long term.”

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