Bayer HealthCare Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Kogenate(R) Product Line and 8
Billion IU Milestone at 2008 WFH World Congress
Company Announces Winners of the 'It's Your Passion. Let It Out' Contest
ISTANBUL, Turkey, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare today announced
the 20th anniversary of the company's Kogenate(R) line of products and more
than two decades of hemophilia A research, collaboration and community
building at the 2008 World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) World Congress in
Istanbul, Turkey. More than 8 billion international units of Kogenate(R) and
Kogenate(R) FS/KOGENATE(R) Bayer have been infused to date.
Kogenate(R) clinical trials began in May 1988 in Bonn, Germany. This
advent of recombinant factor VIII technology represented a leap forward in the
delivery of safe, effective treatment for people with hemophilia A. Since
then, Bayer's Kogenate(R) line of products has maintained a record of safety,
with two decades of clinical use and no confirmed case of pathogen
transmission.
"Besides celebrating an impressive 20 years of safe, effective treatment,
we are celebrating the many lives that have been touched through the use of
our Kogenate(R) line of products," said Michael E. Mathews, general manager,
hemophilia, and vice president of marketing, specialty medicine, Bayer
HealthCare. "We are passionate at Bayer about improving the lives of people
living with hemophilia. We are the only company with a long-acting recombinant
factor VIII protein in human clinical trials. We are also creating new and
innovative delivery systems that decrease the discomfort of infusion and
increase convenience."
To celebrate its 20-year milestone, Bayer launched the "It's Your Passion.
Let It Out" contest. Applicants from around the world expressed -- in the
medium of their choice -- what they are passionate about as members of the
hemophilia community. Representatives of the WFH served as contest judges and
chose three entries to receive the grand prize, an all-expense-paid trip for
two to the 2008 WFH World Congress. The winners are:
-- Mindy Ritchie, USA, video
-- Ilian Cori, Bulgaria, photography
-- Diego Constantino Sossa Centurion, Argentina, essay
All contest submissions will be on display at the World Congress and will
appear at events around the world in 2008.
Bayer is committed to developing innovative hemophilia A treatments and
expanding scientific and clinical knowledge that improves patient care. Over
the past two decades, Bayer has:
-- Invested hundreds of millions of dollars in hemophilia research,
clinical trials and post-marketing studies to ensure the safety and
efficacy of its Kogenate(R) products.
-- Supported local and international hemophilia patient groups such as the
WFH in their advocacy and patient care initiatives.
-- Supported innovative educational and training programs to improve the
diagnosis and care of people with bleeding disorders around the world.
-- Donated more than 30 million international units of product to
countries with limited access to hemophilia treatment, bringing hope
and saving lives.
About Kogenate(R) FS
Kogenate(R) FS (Antihemophilic Factor [Recombinant]) is a recombinant
factor VIII treatment indicated for the treatment of hemophilia A. The most
frequently reported adverse events were local injection site reactions,
dizziness and rash. Known intolerance or allergic reactions to constituents
of the preparation is a contraindication to the use of Kogenate(R) FS. Known
hypersensitivity to mouse or hamster protein may be a contraindication to the
use of Kogenate(R) FS. Please see the full prescribing information for
important risk and use information at http://www.kogenatefs.com.
About Hemophilia A
Hemophilia A, also known as factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia,
is largely an inherited bleeding disorder in which one of the proteins needed
to form blood clots in the body is missing or reduced. Hemophilia A, the most
common type of hemophilia, is caused by deficient or defective blood
coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII. Hemophilia A is characterized by
prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or
internal organs. Approximately 400,000 people around the world have hemophilia
A.
About Bayer HealthCare LLC
Bayer HealthCare LLC is an affiliate of Bayer HealthCare AG. Bayer
HealthCare AG is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the
healthcare and medical products industry, and based in Leverkusen, Germany.
The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer
Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The Pharmaceuticals
division comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare,
Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, which includes Cardiology and Primary
Care and Specialty Medicine, which includes Hematology, Oncology and Multiple
Sclerosis. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that
will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance
well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating
diseases.
Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material
differences between the actual future results, financial situation,
development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These
factors include those discussed in our annual and interim reports filed with
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to
update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or
developments.
SOURCE Bayer HealthCare
Sreejit Mohan of Bayer HealthCare, +1-510-705-5477, Sreejit.mohan@bayer.com
