Press releases

DEERFIELD, Ill., November 24, 2004 –Baxter Healthcare Corporation highlighted at the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) annual meeting six programs created to address the hemophilia community’s most critical needs.  As a part of its ongoing effort to improve the lives of people with hemophilia and those who care for them, Baxter designed these programs to support the safe administration of therapy, improve self-management of the disease, encourage patient/physician dialogue and enhance the understanding of hemophilia.

“Baxter has a long-standing history with the hemophilia community,” said Pete O’Malley, vice president and general manager, Baxter’s Bioscience business, North America. “While the population is relatively small, the challenges they deal with on a daily basis are not. We have listened to the community and strive to offer programs that will continue to address their most critical needs.”

The following outlines the Baxter-sponsored programs that assist the hemophilia community:

Venous Access Tool Kit

The Venous Access Tool Kit was designed to offer educational information for nurses to help patients address infusion issues to navigate safely and effectively through the treatment of bleeding in persons with hemophilia. The Tool Kit was created from published evidence and extensive clinical experience of leading hemophilia nurses who guided its development.  Comprised of several detailed booklets, it addresses important issues including the safe administration of therapy, appropriate disposal of infusion supplies, monitoring complications and assisting children through the infusion process. 

“Hemophilia can be a challenging disease given the many aspects of complications and treatment and it is important to have tools and information to help patients and their caregivers take control of this disease,” said Jennifer Maahs, nurse practitioner, Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center and member of Baxter’s Venous Access Advisory Board.  “The Venous Access Toolkit provides critical information, including several booklets that can be used with patients at specific points in time to address the issues that are relevant to what they are currently facing with their treatment.”

Choice, Access and Innovation Symposium

“Ensure You Have Choice:  Your Right To Access and Innovation” was the title of a three-part symposium offered to attendees at the meeting. 

Lauren Kelley, President, LA Kelley Communications, Inc., discussed health care insurance and lifetime caps, as well as how to advocate for coverage through private and public health insurance plans.  Julie Frankel, from the Hemophilia Association of New Jersey, provided tips on how to advocate and lobby state governments to ensure patients’ choice and the right to access their preferred hemophilia treatment.  Finally, Marc Salit, vice president, Scientific Affairs, Baxter’s BioScience business, discussed innovations in hemophilia treatments, including Baxter’s latest therapy, ADVATE®, the only hemophilia A therapy made without any plasma protein additives in the cell culture process, purification and final formulation, thereby eliminating the risk of infection from viruses and infectious prions that may be carried in these protein additives.

Partnership Advocacy Communication Training (PACT) Program

One example of Baxter’s support of patient advocacy and lobbying is its collaboration with the Hemophilia Association of New Jersey (HANJ) on a program called Partnership Advocacy Communication Training (PACT).  Baxter announced during the meeting its financial support for the advocacy efforts of the NHF and HANJ to support local state-based chapters in addressing issues in their individual states.  The advocacy grant will be provided to local chapters to help navigate the legislative process and provide the tools for them to be successful in addressing issues that may negatively impact the hemophilia community such as access to therapies.

ADVOY Operational Excellence Pilot Project

Baxter announced it has awarded three Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) the ADVOY Operational Excellence (OPEX) Pilot Project, Developing and Assessing Strategies to Increase Utilization and Incorporate ADVOY into HTC Clinical Practice.  Selected by the ADVOY National Data Oversight Committee (N-DOC), a multi-disciplinary team of outside experts, three grants totaling $50,000 were awarded to the Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, the Munson Medical Hemophilia Treatment Center and the University of Michigan Hemophilia Treatment Center. 

www.ADVATE.com Sweepstakes

A trip to the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) annual meeting offers patients and their families an opportunity to attend forums on a variety of topics that affect their community. Baxter’s ADVATE.com sweepstakes offers patients and their families an opportunity to win an all-expense-paid trip to this annual meeting.  Five families were selected to attend the meeting in Dallas this year, November 4-6.

www.PassportForLife.com

Baxter also sponsors PassportForLife.com, a web-based program that helps patients better manage hemophilia. With Passport For Life, visitors who sign up receive a six-month customized hemophilia support plan that provides helpful tips and information about hemophilia management, goal-setting tools, quizzes, polls, educational resources and other activities.

About ADVATE

ADVATE should be administered cautiously in patients with previous hypersensitivity to constituents of Factor VIII preparations or known hypersensitivity to mouse or hamster proteins.  The most common related adverse events observed during the ADVATE clinical studies include: strange taste in mouth, headache, dizziness and flushing.  The formation of inhibitors has been observed with all Factor VIII products, including ADVATE.  Patients should contact their doctor 
if they are not able to prevent or control bleeding episodes with their regular doses of prescribed Factor VIII therapy.

About Hemophilia A

People with hemophilia A do not produce adequate amounts of Factor VIII, which is necessary to effectively clot blood. Without enough Factor VIII, patients can experience spontaneous, uncontrolled internal bleeding that is painful, debilitating and damaging to joints. If untreated, patients with severe hemophilia A have a greatly reduced life expectancy.

About Baxter

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc.  Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients´ lives.

For more information, including ADVATE full prescribing information, please visit www.baxter.com.