Flexible Storage Options can Impact Daily Use of FVIII Treatments in People with Haemophilia A

PR67268

PARIS, Feb. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

     This material is intended for global medical media only.

    For journalistic assessment and preparation before publication.

    Poster #P024

    Patient preference data presented today at the 10th Annual Congress of the

European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) demonstrated

the importance of flexible storage on daily use of FVIII treatments in people

with haemophilia A. The survey of 200 people found that those who did not store

their treatment in the refrigerator felt significantly more satisfied with

their treatment, less restricted in daily life when playing sports or

travelling, and travelled more often (p＜0.01).1

    The respondents fell into two groups; those who stored their FVIII

treatment in the refrigerator (85%) and those who stored their FVIII treatment

outside of the refrigerator at room temperature (15%). Those who stored their

treatment at room temperature travelled significantly more often (16 times per

year vs 9 times per year; p＜0.01), and felt relaxed using FVIII treatment in

their daily lives. Only 19% of this group felt that storing, preparing and

mixing FVIII is disruptive to the normal course of the day vs. 35% who store in

the fridge p＜0.05.2

    Of the respondents who stored their FVIII treatment in the refrigerator,

88% believed it should be stored in the refrigerator at all times and 74%

waited an average of 10 minutes for their treatment to reach room temperature

before administering it, with 62% stating that the injection with cold FVIII

was more unpleasant.2

    "People living with haemophilia A can feel restricted in their daily life

based on the misconception that all FVIII treatments must be stored in the

refrigerator," said Mariasanta Napolitano, Regional Centre for Thrombosis and

Haemostasis, University of Palermo, Italy. "It is important that healthcare

professionals communicate to patients that some FVIII products can be used

portably and at room temperature, to enable them to go about their daily lives

as actively as they wish."

    When asked to rate the relative impact of attributes on product choice,

assuming efficacy and safety remained the same, respondents rated the origin of

FVIII (plasma derived vs. recombinant) as having the highest impact and room

temperature as the second highest impact; yet only a minority are aware that

FVIII can be stored without refrigeration.2

    About the survey design

    A survey of 200 adults with haemophilia A in seven countries was conducted:

face-to-face with 90 people in the EU (France, Italy, UK) and 90 people in

Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico), and online with 20 people in Japan.

The questionnaire covered current use of FVIII products, patient satisfaction

and restrictions in daily life using verbalised rating scales (e.g., 'not

restricted at all / somewhat restricted / restricted / strongly restricted').

In addition, preferences were assessed through exercises whereby participants

chose one out of three products in 16 different choice tasks.1

    About haemophilia

    Haemophilia is a chronic, inherited bleeding disorder that primarily

affects males. People born with haemophilia have little or no clotting factor,

which is a protein needed for normal blood clotting. The two main types of

haemophilia are A and B; people living with haemophilia A lack clotting factor

VIII and people living with haemophilia B lack clotting factor IX. Haemophilia

A is about four times as common as haemophilia B.3

    Haemophilia can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the amount of

clotting factor in the blood.3 Approximately 400,000 people are estimated to

live with haemophilia globally.4

    About Novo Nordisk

    Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of

innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us

experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other

serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity.

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 42,100 people in

75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more

information, visit novonordisk.com [http://www.novonordisk.com ], Facebook

[http://www.facebook.com/novonordisk ], Twitter

[http://www.twitter.com/novonordisk ], LinkedIn

[http://www.linkedin.com/company/novo-nordisk ], YouTube

[http://www.Youtube.com/novonordisk ]

    Further information

Media: Katrine Sperling

+45-4442-6718  

krsp@novonordisk.com

Asa Josefsson    

+45-3079-7708  

aajf@novonordisk.com

Investors:     

Peter Hugreffe Ankersen

+45-3075-9085   

phak@novonordisk.com     

Melanie Raouzeos        

+45-3075-3479   

mrz@novonordisk.com     

Hanna Ogren             

+45-3079-8519   

haoe@novonordisk.com     

Anders Mikkelsen        

+45-3079-4461   

armk@novonordisk.com     

Kasper Veje (US)        

+1-609-235-8567

kpvj@novonordisk.com

     References

    1) Mariasanta Napolitano et al., Patient Preferences in Haemophilia A

Treatment: The Importance of Storage Flexibility in Daily Life, abstract. 10th

Annual Congress of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied

Disorders (EAHAD), 1-3 February 2017.     

2) Mariasanta Napolitano et al., Patient Preferences in Haemophilia A

Treatment: The Importance of Storage Flexibility in Daily Life, poster #P024.

10th Annual Congress of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied

Disorders (EAHAD), presented 1 February 2017.     

3) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. What is hemophilia?       

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hemophilia (last accessed

January 2017).     

4) National Hemophilia Foundation. Fast Facts.       

http://www.hemophilia.org/About-Us/Fast-Facts (last accessed January 2017).

SOURCE: Novo Nordisk