Bayer Announces 2012 Recipients of Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program

WAYNE, N.J., July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare today announced the 2012 recipients of the Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP). This year, the company awards a total of approximately $2.3 million USD in funding to 15 recipients in nine countries. BHAP is the largest program of its kind in hemophilia, funding innovative research and educational initiatives around the world. As such, BHAP is part of Bayer's commitment to research, support and disease management in hemophilia.

The 2012 announcement is especially meaningful, as it marks the 10th anniversary of BHAP and its resulting contributions to the global hemophilia community. Since its founding in 2002, BHAP has awarded more than 200 grants, totaling more than $24 million USD, to researchers and caregivers from 29 countries around the world. BHAP support has resulted in more than 360 scientific abstracts, publications and presentations by awardees.

"This year's award recipients are following in the proud BHAP tradition, established over the past 10 years," said Prasad Mathew, Vice President, Global Medical Affairs Hematology, Bayer HealthCare. "The scientists and caregivers we honor today are laying the groundwork for greater understanding of many aspects of hemophilia, and I look forward to seeing the results of their valuable work in the future."

BHAP awardees are selected by a global panel of distinguished hemophilia clinicians, researchers and caregivers. The full list of winners and their respective project titles can be found at www.bayer-hemophilia-awards.com.

In the United States, Dr. Keith Neeves of the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Annette von Drygalski of the University of California San Diego, Dr. Neil Josephson of Puget Sound Blood Center, Seattle, and Professor Philip Fay, of the University of Rochester were given the award for their research efforts focused on patient-specific dosing of replacement therapies, factor V activity augmentation as novel bypassing strategy, induction of tolerance to FVIII and novel methods for stabilizing factor VIIIa, respectively. This research, while being conducted in the U.S., has the potential to impact the lives of people living with hemophilia worldwide.

"As a researcher committed to the hemophilia community, I am honored to receive this prestigious award.  I hope to make a valuable contribution to the scientific understanding of novel FV-based bypassing strategies in hemophilia," said Dr. von Drygalski.

BHAP is one example of Bayer's commitment to expanding the scientific and clinical knowledge that may contribute to improving patient care. Some of the BHAP research priorities include prophylaxis, impact of advancing age on hemophilia patients, treatment innovations, and the mechanism of action of clotting factor concentrates.

About the Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program

The Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP) supports basic and clinical research and education in hemophilia. Through grants provided to early career investigators, fellows in training and other hemophilia care professionals, the program seeks to support the next generation of care and treatment options for people with hemophilia worldwide. For more information about BHAP, please visit www.bayer-hemophilia-awards.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.

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals business of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a subsidiary of Bayer AG. Bayer HealthCare is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, and combines the activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. As a specialty pharmaceutical company, Bayer HealthCare provides products for General Medicine, Hematology, Neurology, Oncology and Women's Healthcare. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

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SOURCE Bayer HealthCare