Hemophilia Federation of America is a national nonprofit organization that assists, educates and advocates for the bleeding disorders community.
In the spring of 2020, the usual way of life for the entire nation changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States. While Hemophilia Federation of America quickly responded by providing resources and information to the bleeding disorders community, the organization also wanted to better understand how the community was affected. HFA conducted an […]
Watch the webinar Hemophilia Federation of America hosted an excellent line-up of experts, including well-known epidemiologists from NIH and UCLA, as well as leading HTC medical professionals, who answered questions about the COVID-19 vaccination in those with bleeding disorders during the COVID-19 Forum on Jan. 26, 2021. The panel included: 聽 鈥 Duc “Bobby” Tran, […]
The World Federation of Hemophilia, National Hemophilia Foundation and the聽European Haemophilia Consortium have announced COVID-19 vaccination guidance for people with bleeding disorders. The following is from a press release from WFH. Read the press release in its entirety here. People with bleeding disorders are not at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 or developing a severe […]
The following is information from the World Federation of Hemophilia, European聽Hemophilia Consortium, and the National Hemophilia Foundation. The WFH, EHC and NHF have learned of and subsequently confirmed a decision by Sanofi Genzyme to initiate a voluntary sponsor-led global dosing hold on its full clinical development program for fitusiran due to the identification of new […]
Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced it was extending the recall of Stimate (desmopressin) to the consumer/user level. Stimate is manufactured by Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. and is distributed and sold in the United States by CSL Behring. This marks an expansion of Ferring鈥檚 initial July 2020 plans to conduct a narrower pharmacy-level recall. Under a consumer-level recall, people […]
NOTE:聽The recall does not apply to any states in the United States, it only applies to the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company, announced a voluntary recall on June […]
The following is an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly due to a lack or decrease in a protein called clotting factor. The two most common types of hemophilia are hemophilia A, which is due to a lack […]
The following is an article that appeared on Pharmacytime.com by Sara Karlovitch. See link below for original press release from St. Petersburg University. The severe course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be tied to the von Willebrand factor (VWF), according to a new hypothesis out of St. Petersburg University. VWF is one of the […]
The following is information from the World Federation of Hemophilia. A joint World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) statement* is issued on two deaths reported in orphan disease gene therapy clinical trial (*on behalf of the WFH Coagulation Product Safety, Supply, and Access Committee): We have become aware of two […]
The following is an excerpt from a press release from CSL Behring. Read the press release in its entirety here. 鈥淭he Fight Is In Us鈥 Campaign Seeks to Mobilize COVID-19 Survivors to Accelerate the Development of Potentially Lifesaving Therapies A coalition of world-leading medical and research institutions, blood centers, life science companies, technology companies, philanthropic […]
Click Below to Translate Page to Spanish. STATEMENTS AND UPDATES During this time of rapidly-changing news surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, HFA聽will continue to publish updates and information about COVID-19 and its effects on the bleeding disorders community. MEDICAL NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS & PRODUCT AVAILABILITY NATIONAL, GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL NEWS RESOURCES FAQ: BLEEDING DISORDERS AND COVID-19 […]
The following is information from BD. BD is conducting a voluntary medical device recall for multiple lots of the BD PosiFlush™ SF (Sterile Field) Saline Flush Syringe 10mL identified in the Table above and Attachment A. This product has been confirmed to exhibit holes in the packaging, which impacts package integrity and potentially compromises a […]
The following is a press release from the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable. The latest guidance from the CDC is an important step in the fight for hepatitis C elimination, but increased federal funding for viral hepatitis still needed. The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, a national coalition working to eliminate viral hepatitis, today applauded the U.S. […]
The following is from a press release featuring various industry partners. See the press release here. Partnership brings together world-leading plasma companies to focus on developing and delivering a hyperimmune immunoglobulin in the global fight against COVID-19 Biotest, BPL, LFB, and Octapharma have joined an alliance formed by CSL Behring and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited […]
Today the FDA released several new guidance documents with permanent and temporary (during the COVID-19 emergency) changes to several policies related to blood and plasma donation.聽 HFA has signed on to a statement with coalition partners from the American Plasma Users Coalition reiterating APLUS鈥檚 longstanding position that complex blood safety policies such as those related […]
The following is a statement provided by MASAC,聽the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council. Patients on home therapy receive regular shipments of clotting factor concentrate (CFC) or non-factor replacement therapy (e.g., emicizumab-kxwh) from their pharmacy providers, often on a monthly basis or as home supplies are depleted. Having an adequate supply of these […]
The following is a statement provided by Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group. “Living and working through a global pandemic 鈥 the coronavirus (COVID-19) 鈥 is an event none of us has experienced in our lifetime. As the situation continues to evolve, we want you to know that your Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group team will be here […]
The following is information from the World Federation of Hemophilia. From the World Federation of Hemophilia Medical Advisory Board (MAB)* and the WFH Committee on Product Availability, Safety, and Supply (CPSSA)**:聽 For hemophilia patients currently treated with standard or extended recombinant half-life FVIII or FIX concentrates, FEIBA, FVIIa, or emicizumab: No reason to change the […]
The following is a statement provided by BioMatrix. “BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. Our organization has initiated proper聽response measures to ensure bleeding disorder patients maintain access to the specialty drugs required to effectively聽manage their condition throughout this emergent situation. BioMatrix is leveraging its national footprint, detailed聽business continuity plans, and extensive assets […]
The following is information provided by Pfizer and BioNTech. On March 13, 2020, Pfizer issued a five-point plan calling on the biopharmaceutical industry to join the company in committing to collaboration to combat COVID-19. 聽Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech announced that the companies have agreed to a letter of intent regarding the co-development and distribution (excluding […]
The following is a statement provided by PPTA.聽 “Hello Stakeholders,聽 As previously noted, I am writing to inform you of an update to PPTA鈥檚 statement regarding coronavirus and the safety of plasma protein therapies. This update provides clarity regarding the safety margins of plasma protein therapies manufactured by PPTA member companies and maintains the main […]
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that it is classing COVID-19 as a pandemic, and repeated its call for countries to take urgent and aggressive action to control the spread of the virus. Also on March 11, 2020, PPTA updated its statement on coronavirus and the safety of plasma protein therapies, noting […]
UPDATE: As of March 27, 2020, HFA will halt travel for HFA staff until April 30, 2020. As the nation continues to respond to an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), Hemophilia Federation of America has made the difficult decision to temporarily halt all travel plans of our staff throughout the month of March.聽 While we had […]
Bayer has issued the following statement regarding the supply and availability of Bayer’s Factor VIII/Hemophilia A products in the wake of the聽2019-nCoV (novel coronavirus) outbreak:
On March 3, 2020, NHF鈥檚 Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MASAC) published a letter to the community regarding the evolving coronavirus outbreak. MASAC鈥檚 letter seeks to 鈥減rovide some interim guidance for the bleeding disorders community,鈥 directs people to the CDC website as a reliable source of information, and highlights some information regarding product supply and […]
Genentech has issued the following statement regarding the supply and availability of Hemlibra in the wake of the聽2019-nCoV (novel coronavirus) outbreak: Please note that HFA does not recommend, endorse or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any specific products, treatments, or opinions. If you have any questions or concerns about your […]
Late yesterday (February 25, 2020), Takeda announced a pharmacy-level recall of two lots of VONVENDI von Willebrand factor (recombinant) 1,300 IU vials. Takeda鈥檚 announcement stated that 鈥淎lthough both lots met all acceptance criteria, Takeda is issuing a voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution. Takeda believes that despite this voluntary recall that [sic] there […]
By Najat Bouchkouj, M.D., Bindu George, M.D., and Karen Jackler, MPH A person with hemophilia can experience aspects of their disease that even the most qualified doctors and scientists can鈥檛 fully appreciate. This is why the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration is working to hear and understand the […]
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. The new coronavirus (scientific identifier: 2019-nCoV) has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China; additional cases have been identified in other countries. As of February 3, 2020, […]
The following is an excerpt from a recent communication from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Read the full communication here: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would like to remind the public that individuals who have ever tested positive for HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) should not donate blood, because of the […]
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