Bayer HealthCare Provides Nearly $2.5 Million to Advance Hemophilia Research and Patient Care

WAYNE, N.J., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare today announced the 2011 recipients of the Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program (BHAP).  This year, the company has awarded nearly $2.5 million in funding to 18 recipients from 12 countries, including the U.S.  BHAP, the largest program of its kind for the hemophilia community, was created to help improve the understanding and treatment of hemophilia and related bleeding disorders.  The program also seeks to reduce the disease's impact on individuals and their communities, and support the next generation of care and treatment options worldwide for people with hemophilia.

BHAP supports research in bleeding disorders, ranging from studies to better understand inhibitor development and methods for treatment, gene therapy and joint care to the development of pediatric care models in underserved markets and hemophilia counseling.

"We're very pleased to award and congratulate these future hemophilia thought leaders for their exemplary passion, talent and expertise," said John E. Murphy, Ph.D., Director, Molecular Biology, Biologics Research, Bayer HealthCare. "BHAP is a reflection of Bayer's commitment to expanding the scientific and clinical knowledge that improves patient care."

The 2011 BHAP recipients were selected by a global committee of distinguished hemophilia clinicians, researchers and caregivers, and were honored at the BHAP award ceremony held in conjunction with the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Annual Meeting in Kyoto, Japan.  Among this year's winners are:

• Dr. John Sheehan of the University of Wisconsin, for "Contribution of the heparin binding exosite to factor IX clearance and in vivo activity"
• Dr. Carol Miao, Seattle Children's Research Institute, for "Immunimodulation to eradicate anti-factor VIII inhibitory antibodies"
• Dr. Paris Margaritis, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, for "The role of EPCR on FVIIa-mediated hemostasis"

Since its founding in 2002, BHAP has awarded nearly 200 grants, totaling more than $22.5 million, to researchers and caregivers from 29 countries.  This support has resulted in more than 290 scientific abstracts, publications and presentations by awardees to date.

"BHAP, now in its ninth year, continues to attract high-quality applicants and awardees who are focused on advancing hemophilia treatment and patient care. Through such research, we hope to advance scientific understanding and positively affect the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilia and related bleeding disorders," said Prof. Johannes Oldenburg, chairman of the BHAP Grants, Review and Awards Committee and Head of the Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine at University Clinic Bonn.  

In addition to the BHAP award ceremony at this year's ISTH Congress, Bayer is also presenting data from globally sponsored studies and country-sponsored programs.  Seventeen studies will be presented, including seven oral presentations.

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. Parties who wish to apply for the 2012 Bayer Hemophilia Awards should submit a letter of intent by November 30, 2011 to be considered. For complete information on the Program, award categories and electronic submission process, visit the Web site at 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 is the most common type of hemophilia and is characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. Approximately 400,000 people around the world have hemophilia.

About Bayer HealthCare

Bayer HealthCare 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, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions.  As a specialty pharmaceutical company, Bayer HealthCare provides products for Diagnostic Imaging, 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.

Forward-looking statements

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SOURCE Bayer HealthCare