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April 13th, 2010
Central and Eastern Europe PI Outreach
Improving Quality of Life for PI patients in Central and Eastern Europe
New York, March 30th, 2010 - Octapharma Nordic AB and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation entered into an ambitious collaboration which marks a significant milestone in the history of Primary Immunodeficiencies (PI). The subject of the mutual agreement between Octapharma and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation is the establishment of up to 16 Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Centers for Primary Immunodeficiencies in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in Scandinavia. After thorough research by Octapharma, coupled with careful analysis of baseline surveys conducted by the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, Octapharma and JMF announced the establishment of potential Diagnostic and Research Centers in 11 countries throughout 2010 and 2011.
March 30th marks a significant date in the PI field - a groundbreaking milestone in terms of PI awareness, diagnosis and treatment in Central and Eastern Europe. “Octapharma’s underlying motivation is to bridge the gap between Eastern European treatment standards and the EU in order to enable ameliorated access to care to the Eastern European patient community. Moreover, our objective is to improve the Quality of Life of PI patients in Eastern Europe, which includes raising awareness, partnering in the early diagnosis and facilitating referral of PI patients to treatment Centers for appropriate diagnosis and treatment” – says Tobias Marguerre, General Manager of Octapharma Nordic. In addition, Tobias Marguerre states: “We are very enthusiastic and proud to partner with the Jeffrey Modell Foundation, a prestigious organization with an unmatched legacy and competence in the field of PI. We are honoured and look forward to be reaching out to a great number of patients who remain undiagnosed together with JMF and the newly established Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Centers”.
“There is a large under-diagnosed population of children and adults in these regions suffering with these diseases and keeping them from enjoying a full life,” said Vicki Modell, Co-founder of JMF. “Their illness interrupts their activities, detours their plans, and shatters their dreams.”“We are proud to partner with Octapharma, an organization that believes in our mission and has supported JMF all over the world. We enthusiastically go forward on this journey with Octapharma and look forward to giving all of the children and adults in these regions a chance at a brighter and healthier future,” said Fred Modell, Co-founder of JMF.
Primary Immunodeficiencies are genetic defects in the immune system function that predispose affected individuals to increased rate and severity of infections which are often chronic, persistent, recurring, debilitating, and in some cases, fatal. As a matter of fact, Primary Immunodeficiency diseases have long been neglected as medical conditions, however are now broadly recognized as a worldwide health problem. There are over 150 distinct Primary Immunodeficiency diseases identified up to date[1], many of which are very rare, and in most cases associated with inherited genetic disorders. Primary Immunodeficiency affects as many as 10 million people worldwide[2], a prevalence higher than that of childhood leukemia and lymphoma combined.[3]
About the Jeffrey Modell Foundation:
The Jeffrey Modell Foundation is a public charity, a prestigious global organization, specifically committed to basic and clinical research, physician education, patient support, public awareness and advocacy in the PI field. The Foundation was created in 1987 by Vicki and Fred Modell in memory of their son, Jeffrey, whom they lost to Primary Immunodeficiency disease. Their dedication, coupled with determination to help prevent this life-threatening disease from claiming the lives of other children, led the Modells to establish a unique organization dedicated to finding treatments and cures for PI. The Foundation has developed a global network of 72 funded Diagnostic and Research Centers worldwide and continues to expand.
About Octapharma:
Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest plasma products manufacturers in the world and has been committed to patient care and medical innovation for over 25 years. Octapharma’s core business is the development, production and sale of high quality human protein therapies from both human plasma and human cell lines, including immunoglobulin intravenous (IGIV), intensive care and coagulation disorder therapies. Octapharma employs over 4,000 people and has biopharmaceutical experience in 80 countries worldwide. Octapharma operates five state-of-the-art production sites.
Forward-Looking statements:
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors not under the company’s control. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. These factors include results of current or pending research and development activities and actions by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.
Not for Release in the USA
[1] http://www.info4pi.org/aboutPI/index.cfm?section=aboutPI&CFID=35954858&CFTOKEN=28191390
[2] http://www.info4pi.org/aboutPI/index.cfm?section=aboutPI&CFID=35954858&CFTOKEN=28191390
[3] Hammarström, Lennart. Professor and Director, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden. Presentation to European Union (EU) Parliament. March 2004.
© Octapharma AG, 2010
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