Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals Supports World Hemophilia Day 2012 with Activities in Cambridge, MA

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it is joining with the World Federation of Hemophilia and the local and international bleeding disorders communities to observe World Hemophilia Day. Celebrated around the world on April 17, World Hemophilia Day is an annual event that seeks to increase public awareness of all inherited bleeding disorders and the challenges faced by this community.

Approximately 400,000 people globally are believed to be affected by hemophilia, a condition where the blood does not clot normally. This can lead to uncontrolled internal bleeding, which may in turn result in severe joint, brain or organ damage. The theme for World Hemophilia Day 2012 is helping to "Close the Gap" of care around the world. An estimated 75% people with hemophilia receive very inadequate treatment or no treatment at all. Without adequate treatment, patients are at risk for serious bleeding episodes and lasting damage to joints or organs.

"Access to affordable, high-quality care is a critical issue for people with hemophilia today," said Kevin Sorge, Executive Director of the New England Hemophilia Association. "At the New England Hemophilia Association, we work every day to help people with hemophilia and their families. We are pleased to have another organization here in Massachusetts that is also committed to improving access to care, and we look forward to celebrating World Hemophilia Day with Inspiration."

Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, a growing biotechnology company solely focused on hemophilia, was founded by two families with sons affected by hemophilia. Inspiration's mission is to improve access to treatment and bring more treatment options for people with bleeding disorders around the world.

"On World Hemophilia Day, we are excited to show our support for closing the treatment gap in hemophilia," says John P. Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Inspiration. "People with hemophilia strive every day to live extraordinary lives, and Inspiration is committed to help each person get the right treatment."

For World Hemophilia Day 2012, Inspiration has organized events to bring together its employees and the broader hemophilia community here in Cambridge, Inspiration's new home.  

Starting at 1:30 p.m., the public is invited to join Inspiration in Cambridge's Kendall Square and share their own inspirational stories in a World Hemophilia Day community art project. Renowned 3-D chalk artist Douglas Rouse will create artwork in honor of the day that will be unveiled outside of the Kendall Square MBTA station at 2:00 p.m.

The City of Cambridge is showing its support for World Hemophilia Day and for the local hemophilia community with a proclamation issued by the Mayor's office that officially recognizes the observance day.  

Employees will also have the opportunity to learn more about what inspires families living with hemophilia during an Inspiration Town Hall meeting with patients, families and advocates. 

To learn more about World Hemophilia Day, visit www.wfh.org/whd/en.

About Hemophilia
People with hemophilia have low levels of a protein called clotting factor, which is essential for blood clotting. There are two types of congenital hemophilia: hemophilia A and hemophilia B. Hemophilia A is caused by a lack of factor VIII, and hemophilia B is caused by a deficiency of factor IX. These factors are proteins that help the body control bleeding by forming functional blood clots. Without these blood-clotting factors, a person can have uncontrolled internal bleeding, which may occur following an injury or surgery. In the most severe form of hemophilia, bleeds can, at times, occur without obvious injury. Depending on the site in the body, these bleeds can result in severe joint, brain or organ damage.

About Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals
Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals is exclusively dedicated to developing treatments for hemophilia, with a primary mission to broaden access to care by providing safe and effective recombinant therapies and advancing innovation for people living with hemophilia. Inspiration has a broad portfolio of recombinant hemophilia product candidates, which includes one under review by the FDA and EMA for marketing approval in the U.S. and Europe, one in late-stage clinical development, and two preclinical programs.

Inspiration's senior management team has broad experience and expertise in hemophilia product development, biologics manufacturing and the successful commercialization of products to treat hemophilia and other rare diseases.

For further information on Inspiration, please visit http://www.inspirationbio.com.

SOURCE Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals