NCC and Pfizer Partner to Provide 10 Million Units of Hemophilia Medicines

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Cancer Coalition (NCC) is pleased to announce its recent collaboration with Pfizer, Inc to provide hemophilia medicines to underserved patients in the developing world.   To date, NCC has received more than 10 million international units of ReFacto® Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), a therapy used for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in people with hemophilia A, to assist patients who otherwise would have little opportunity for adequate treatment.    The value of this donation is more than $13 million, and it will help many hundreds of hemophilia patients around the world.

"Pfizer is dedicated to developing and delivering innovative hemophilia therapies and we are proud of our partnership with the National Cancer Coalition, which is helping to distribute Pfizer-donated factor product to patients in the global hemophilia community," says Jean-Michel Halfon, President and General Manager, Emerging Markets, Pfizer. "We are committed to working with partner organizations like NCC to provide access to hemophilia medicines to patients who need them most."

Pfizer's donation will help to bring much-needed hemophilia therapy to patients who may be untreated or inadequately treated.  In addition, these donations help to support the development of the infrastructure which creates long term value beyond the donation itself.  This current donation to the National Cancer Coalition is part of the largest hemophilia donation that has ever been made in Pfizer's history.

"Our organization is dedicated to providing the resources and tools needed in the treatment and prevention of cancer, hemophilia, and other serious diseases and illnesses throughout the world," says Robert Landry, President of the National Cancer Coalition.  "Product donations such as Pfizer's are essential to addressing the needs of the patients and families that we serve globally."   National Cancer Coalition, a non-governmental organization (NGO), is a preferred partner of Pfizer and the two organizations have collaborative projects in a number of other areas including cancer, depression, and arthritis.  

Hemophilia A is a rare, inherited blood-clotting disorder characterized by spontaneous hemorrhages or prolonged bleeding, typically into joints and soft tissue. People with hemophilia A are deficient in a key protein -- factor VIII -- that is vital in the clotting mechanism to prevent bleeding. Most patients with hemophilia A are dependent on factor VIII replacement therapy.

The National Cancer Coalition, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, supports cancer relief, research, and educational programs throughout the world. The Coalition's international medical assistance program, termed NCC Cares, has provided requested specialty pharmaceuticals, essential medicines, hospital supplies and medical equipment to public hospitals and local humanitarian organizations that help needy patients in over 50 developing countries around the world.  The NCC Provides program awards financial assistance for American cancer patients who would otherwise not be able to complete their treatments.  For additional information, visit our website at: www.nationalcancercoalition.org

SOURCE National Cancer Coalition