News

  Genome editing is a breakthrough healthcare technology which has the potential to notably change treatment options, largely influence current healthcare models, and impact patients in clinical trials worldwide. The science is advancing rapidly, promising considerable increases in the efficacy and precision of genome editing products with potentially curative treatments ...

On September 26, a Blood Transfusion Multi-Stakeholder Round Table Discussion was organised in Brussels by Celgene Corporation, featuring numerous scientists, haematologists, and patient organisations’ representatives. Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou, TIF Executive Director, and Mrs. Lily Cannon, TIF Operations Manager, represented the Federation in this meeting. The discussion drew attention to issues ...

A firm message in favour of achieving World Health Organization’s (WHO) number 1 goal, thus the provision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to citizens of all countries at a global scale, was sent by  world leaders yesterday, September 23, during the 74th UN General Assembly taking place in New York. ...

  The Greek Thalassaemia Federation (EOTHA), faithful to her annual appointment with patients and specialists in the field of thalassaemia, will host its 2019’s Educational Conference on September 20-22, 2019 in Ioannina, Greece. The event attracts the interest of a significant number of patients with thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia ...

A medication used to treat high blood pressure, called Valsartan, may help decrease the stickiness of red blood cells and reduce the risk of vaso-occlusive crisis in people with sickle cell disease (SCD), a research study suggests. The study, “Valsartan impedes epinephrine-induced ICAM-4 activation on normal, sickle cell trait and sickle cell ...

Cypriot psychologist and politician to take over from Vytenis Andriukaitis on November 1 Stella Kyriakides has got the nod as EU Commissioner for Health, making her part of a strong female presence in the new structure of the next European Commission. Kyriakides, one of 13 women commissioners from 27, replaces ...

  Thalassaemia is a hereditary blood disease that CAN be prevented! But in what ways? ΤΙF’s latest educational video shines a spotlight on the essential aspect of the disease’s prevention, still challenging  in numerous countries across the world. Our goal? To further improve understanding and knowledge of the prevention’s vital ...

  Recent scientific developments in gene therapy for β-thalassaemia have brought hope that multi-transfused β-thalassaemia patients will, in the very near future, have a chance and a choice for a one-time final cure and a life without the need for treatment. The number of ongoing gene therapy clinical trials has ...

Companies involved in human gene editing have entered the ethical debate about the controversial technology, issuing a joint declaration that DNA must not be altered in a way that passes genetic changes on to future generations. The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), an international group representing the cell and gene ...

  The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) committee responsible for human medicines, has recently adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product ”Deferasirox Mylan”, intended for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions in patients with ...