Category: Medical News

Breaking Clinical Trial News from Genentech/Roche

The following is the full statement from Genentech/Roche regarding the recent death of a 41-year-old hemophilia with inhibitors patient who was participating in the HAVEN 1 study. Dear members of the Haemophilia community,At Roche, we respect and value the close relationships that exist within the haemophilia community. We also understand the important role patient organizations […]

CDC Describes New Method to Detect Specific Antibodies in Inhibitor Development

Note: The following is an abridged form of an article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). The original full-length of the article can be read here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with researchers from the Hemophilia Inhibitor Research Study (HIRS), have recently published two articles in The Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The articles describe […]

FDA Issues Warning New Hepatitis C Drugs Could Reactivate Hepatitis B Virus

The following is excerpted from an FDA news release. To read the release in its entirety, click here.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning about the risk that some of the new direct-acting antiviral medicines for hepatitis C (HCV) can reactivate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) among patients who have had HBV. “In a few […]

Blood Journal: Analysis of 13 Years of Hemophilia Patient Data

A recent article in Blood, a publication of the American Society of Hematology, examines thirteen years of surveillance data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding patient outcomes for men with severe hemophilia. Among the key points: Prospectively collected data on demographics, complications, and mortality are described for 4899 US men with […]

Update #3: Zika Virus & Blood Supply

On August 26th, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a revised guidance to US blood banks addressing Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Zika Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Components.The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquito; it can also be spread by sexual contact. Although 4 out of 5 people […]

Voluntary Recalls Issued for Additional Lots of Helixate FS Recombinant Clotting Factor Product

CSL Behring has announced a voluntary recall of additional lots of Helixate FS with vial adapter. This is an update to the recall that was issued on July 25, 2016. All lot numbers affected by the July 25, 2016 recall and August 10, 2016 extension are: Product Lot Number Expiration Date Helixate FS 250 IU 270P892 09/15/2016 […]

Update #2: Zika Virus & Blood Supply

For the past few months, HFA has been monitoring the progression of the Zika virus in the United States. Since the first reported cases of Zika virus reaching the United States in January, there have been thousands of additional cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the follow cases and causes of transmission […]

FDA Requests Comments Regarding MSM Donor Deferral Policy

In January of this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised its donor deferral policy surrounding men who have sex with men (MSM). On July 26, 2016, the FDA issued another request for comments regarding the MSM donor deferral policy. Current policy permits blood donations by MSM provided that the donor has not had […]

FDA Releases "Voice of the Patient" Summary from Patient-Focused Drug Development Initiative

In September 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hosted a public meeting as part of it’s Patient-Focused Drug Development initiative, a 5 year initiative to learn more from patients across a variety of disease and disorders. We were proud to be a part of this meeting and provided support to several of the patient […]

Update #4: MASAC Issues Recommendation on SIPPET

On June 28, 2016, the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MASAC) issued a recommendation following the published results of the Survey of Inhibitors in Plasma Products Exposed Toddler (SIPPET) The SIPPET study was published in the New England Journal Of Medicine (NEJM) in May 2016. The full text of the SIPPET study is available for a […]