Octapharma Guides International Initiative Focused on Inhibitors

Switzerland-based plasma products manufacturer, Octapharma is guiding an international initiative focused on confronting the risk associated with hemophilia A therapy – anti-factor VIII (FVIII) antibodies, also known as inhibitors.

Octapharma expects that the new initiative, combined with the company’s efforts to pursue the first recombinant FVIII therapy produced from a human cell line, could impact the treatment of an estimated one in every 5,000 to 10,000 men born with hemophilia A worldwide. Globally, 75% of the hemophilia cases go undiagnosed or untreated.

Kim Bjornstrup, vice chairman of Octapharma, said: We brought the international community together to confront this issue because our worldwide commitment to hemophilia A patients dates back to Octapharma’s formation 25 years ago. Our first therapies were developed for the hemophilia community and today most hemophilia patient advocates say that inhibitor development is the greatest obstacle to effective treatment. Octapharma is focused on introducing innovative development strategies that will help improve patient quality of life by finding an effective treatment and developing products to overcome this obstacle.