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 ...
Lire la suite...TIF welcomes landmark UN declaration on Universal Health Coverage
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. ...
Lire la suite...The Greek Thalassaemia Federation hosts its annual Educational Conference on September 20-22
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 ...
Lire la suite...Hypertension Medication Valsartan May Help Prevent Vaso-Occlusive Episodes in Sickle Cell Disease
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 ...
Lire la suite...World Patient Safety Day – 17 September 2019
134 million adverse events occur each year due to unsafe care in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to 2.6 million deaths annually! Safety in health systems is a major global concern due to the enlarging numbers of people suffering avoidable harm while receiving healthcare. Recognizing the urgency of ...
Lire la suite...Cypriot Stella Kyriakides named EU Health Commissioner
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 ...
Lire la suite...FDA Grants Priority Review to Potential Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Voxelotor
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will review an approval application for a drug designed to target the root cause of damage from sickle cell disease (SCD). South San Francisco, California-based Global Blood Therapeutics announced Thursday that the FDA had accepted its application seeking accelerated approval for Voxelotor, an oral drug ...
Lire la suite...TIF releases new video on thalassaemia prevention
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 ...
Lire la suite...TIF issues new leaflet on gene therapy for patients with β-thalassaemia and other haemoglobin disorders
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 ...
Lire la suite...Biotech companies issue first joint declaration on human gene editing
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 ...
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