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CSL Behring pledges $2 million worth of factor concentrates over the next three years to the World Federation of Hemophilia
CSL Behring has set the bar by donating to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) two million units of factor VIII concentrates each year for the next three years. This significant donation will help countries in need where factor concentrates are not readily available.
Long-term commitments, like the donation by CSL Behring, will greatly support the WFH programs and help expand treatment of inherited bleeding disorders worldwide. The WFH looks forward to developing further long-term commitments with other companies so that more people with bleeding disorders can benefit from increased access to treatment products. The WFH humanitarian aid program continues to grow, with our goal being to ensure treatment for all people with inherited bleeding disorders, no matter where they live.
“As a long-standing contributor to the Global Alliance for Progress (GAP) program, CSL Behring applauds WFH’s critically important efforts in bringing about improvements and change in the delivery of healthcare services and medicines to hemophilia patients in areas of the world where the need is greatest,” said Peter Turner, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSL Behring.
“We recognize the importance of leadership in this area and are pleased with CSL Behring’s pledge of support for the development of sustainable national programs through this multiple-year donation of factor concentrates to the WFH,” said Mark Skinner, WFH president.
The WFH relies on product donations to help introduce clotting factor concentrates in emerging countries — these donations serve as a catalyst for improving care. An example is our work in Azerbaijan. When the WFH brought the GAP program to Azerbaijan in 2005, factor concentrates were not available through the national health care system. Through the product donations received from the WFH, Azerbaijan experienced significant growth in their international units (IUs) per capita and now the government provides 15 million IUs.
Since 1996, over 80 million IUs of factor have been channeled through the WFH to over 65 countries around the world. Donated products are also used for emergency, life-threatening cases in countries with limited treatment. In Eritrea in February 2009, humanitarian aid products were sent to treat three brothers, all with severe hemophilia A, each of whom had prolonged bleeding in their knees. Factor replacement therapy was given to the brothers, who would normally not have access to this type of treatment.
CSL Behring’s donation is the WFH’s first multi-year agreement for humanitarian aid products. Their commitment will enable the WFH to better plan distribution of products, and help countries establish sustainable national hemophilia care programs as a vital part of their public healthcare systems. We are grateful to our industry partners such as CSL Behring, who provide, among other resources, valuable and life-saving medicine, including this most recent donation of coagulation factor.
Claudia Black
WFH CEO/Executive Director
Hemophilia World, August 2009
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For more information about WFH humanitarian aid, contact Maria Carolina Arango at marango@wfh.org
Last Updated January 2010 |
