Health & Fitness
Wed, May 16, 2012
BURLINGTON, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--As awareness activities take place today across the globe in recognition of Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) Day a"a" [ Dyax Corp. ] (NASDAQ: DYAX) has announced a donation of $25,000 to the United States Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA) a" the largest HAE patient group in the world. This donation is one of several activities undertaken by the company in honor of HAE Day, including efforts aimed at educating healthcare providers, engaging patients, and leveraging the passion of Dyax employees to support the HAE patient community. Dyax is the manufacturer of KALBITOR (ecallantide) for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE in patients 16 years of age and older.
"On the first ever HAE awareness day, Dyax is proud to bring attention to the individual journeys of the thousands of people living with HAE worldwide"
aOn the first ever HAE awareness day, Dyax is proud to bring attention to the individual journeys of the thousands of people living with HAE worldwide,a said Gustav Christensen, President and CEO of Dyax. aThe activities leading up to this day represent a common goal among patients, healthcare providers, advocacy groups and industry a" to support a healthy and full life for those living with this frequently overlooked condition.a
HAE is a potentially life threatening condition in which patients have a defect in the gene that controls a blood protein called C1 inhibitor. Though the most common types of HAE are diagnosed through a simple blood test, the disease is frequently undetected because it is so rare and symptoms are similar to many other more common conditions.
"We greatly appreciate Dyax's commitment and sponsorship of a wide variety of activities that supported the first-ever HAE Day,a said Janet Long, Executive Vice President, United States Hereditary Angioedema Association.
The efforts to mark the first-ever HAE Day are part of Dyaxas long-standingdedication to providing outstanding services and support to those living with HAE. In addition to a broad range of financial assistance and insurance programs, Dyax offers KALBITOR Home Infusion ServicesSM to treat acute attacks in patientsa homes by providing experienced infusion nurses that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dyax also recently announced a program offering free genetic counseling to HAE patients and their families and released HAE Attack TrackerTM, a free iPhone application available for download on iTunes.
To demonstrate its support for HAE Day, Dyax launched several initiatives to engage with the HAE community while raising funds for the HAEA organization:
- Dyax kicked off its HAE Day campaign at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL, where the company raised nearly $18,000 at a booth dedicated to increasing awareness of HAE among attending medical professionals.
- Fundraising momentum continued with a patient survey hosted on [ www.HAEhope.com ], Dyaxas unbranded patient support website. For each completed survey, Dyax pledged $25 to the HAEA.
- Dyax employees gathered at the companyas corporate headquarters in Burlington, MA to create a ahuman smilea photo for HAEias aCover the World in Smilesa campaign, and many pledged a portion of their paychecks to benefit the HAEA, which was matched 100% by Dyax.
- The Company also supported public awareness efforts in five cities across the country to help increase understanding of HAE on a local level.
- Additionally, Dyax will sponsor two HAE patient advocates to attend the 2012 HAE Global Conference, taking place May 17-20 in Copenhagen, Denmark. These advocates will attend scientific sessions and interact with clinicians, academicians and their fellow patients, sharing the conference experience with those in the HAE community who could not attend through photos, video and other firsthand accounts.
HAE Day has beeninitiated by the HAEi, the International Patient Organization for C1 Inhibitor Deficiency, along with the support of its National Member Organizations. This historic day aims to raise awareness of HAE among the general public and medical community, in order to promote better care and earlier, more accurate diagnosis. For more information about the HAEi, please visit [ www.haei.org ].
About HAE
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare acute inflammatory condition characterized by episodes of severe, often painful swelling affecting the extremities, gastrointestinal tract, genitalia, and larynx. HAE is caused by low or dysfunctional levels of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), a naturally occurring molecule that inhibits plasma kallikrein, a key mediator of inflammation, and other serine proteases in the blood. HAE is estimated to affect 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 50,000 individuals. Learn more at [ www.HAEHope.com ].
About the HAEA
Founded and staffed by HAE patients and caregivers, the US Hereditary Angioedema Association, Inc. (US HAEA) is a 4500 member, non-profit patient advocacy organization dedicated to serving persons with hereditary swelling conditions caused by C1 Inhibitor Deficiency and other undetermined causes. The US HAEA's fundamental goal is to improve the lives of HAE patients and their families by providing a support network and a wide range of services including: individualized patient support, physician referrals, authoritative and readily accessible disease-related information, and clinical research aimed at finding a cure. For more information about the HAEA, please visit [ www.haea.org ].
About KALBITOR (ecallantide)
KALBITOR is a plasma kallikrein inhibitor indicated for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in patients 16 years of age and older. KALBITOR, which was discovered and developed by Dyax, was the first subcutaneous treatment available in the U.S. for treating acute HAE attacks.
Important KALBITOR Safety Information
Anaphylaxis has been reported after administration of KALBITOR. Because of the risk of anaphylaxis, KALBITOR should only be administered by a healthcare professional with appropriate medical support to manage anaphylaxis and hereditary angioedema. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the similarity of symptoms between hypersensitivity reactions and hereditary angioedema and patients should be monitored closely. KALBITOR should not be administered to patients with known clinical hypersensitivity to KALBITOR.
For more information about KALBITOR, including full prescribing information, visit: [ www.KALBITOR.com ].
About Dyax
Dyax is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs. The Companyas lead product, ecallantide, has been approved under the brand name KALBITOR in the United States for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in patients 16 years of age and older.
Dyax is commercializing KALBITOR in the United States independently, and establishing strategic collaborations to develop and commercialize ecallantide for the treatment of HAE in key regions worldwide. Currently, Dyax has collaboration agreements for regions including Europe, Japan, Russia, the Middle East, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean. The company is also exploring other potential indications for ecallantide, either alone or through collaborations, including drug-induced angioedema.
Ecallantide and other compounds in Dyaxas pipeline were identified using its patented phage display technology, which rapidly selects compounds that bind with high affinity and specificity to therapeutic targets. Dyax leverages this technology broadly through the Licensing and Funded Research Program (LFRP). Collectively, LFRP agreements generate significant revenue for Dyax in the form of license fees, milestone payments and/or royalties. The success of the Companyas LFRP is illustrated by the programas advanced licensee pipeline that includes 18 candidates in clinical development. Of those candidates, four are in Phase 3 clinical trials, four are in Phase 2 and ten are in Phase 1.
Dyax is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. For online information about Dyax Corp., please visit [ www.dyax.com ].
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