Canadian Scientists Honored for Role in Breakthrough Drug
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`Canadian Scientists Honored for Role in Breakthrough
`Drug
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`NEWS PROVIDED BY
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`Cooley's Anemia Foundation
`Jun 08, 2017, 08:00 ET
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`NEW YORK,June 8, 2017 /CNW/-- Two Toronto scientists who spearheaded the
`research that broughtalife-saving drug to patients around the world are being
`honored at the annual Cooley's Anemia Foundation Gala tonight in New York City. Drs.
`Michael Spino and Fernando Tricta will jointly receive the Humanitarian of the Year
`Award for their work on deferiprone (Ferriprox™), the first oral medication used to treat
`iron overload caused by blood transfusions in people with certain hereditary red blood
`cell disorders (thalassemia syndromes).
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`Prior to the approval of Ferriprox™, many patients died from cardiac failure and other
`complications from iron overload, as well as the inadequacyof the only existing
`treatment. Patients also suffered a significant burden on their quality of life due to the
`need of a treatmentprocess that required lifelong, daily 8-12 hour injections to remove
`excess iron from the body.
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`http:/Awww.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-scientists-honored-for-role-in-breakthrough-drug-627205651.html
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`8/23/2017
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`Apotex Tech.
`Ex. 2014
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`Apotex Tech.
`Ex. 2014
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`Canadian Scientists Honored for Role in Breakthrough Drug
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`In making this announcement, Anthony Viola, National President of the Cooley's
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`Anemia Foundation Board of Directors, said, "Doctors Spino and Tricta are true heroes
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`in the thalassemia community. Their efforts have led directly to prolonging the lives of
`our patients and enhancing the quality of their lives. We are so grateful that they have
`agreed to let us publically acknowledge them."
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`“It is humbling to have this honor bestowedon us, but the impact that this drug has
`had on so manylives would not have been possible without the unwavering support of
`Dr. Barry Sherman, the Founderof Apotex," said Dr. Spino."To this day, westill receive
`personal, touching stories from patientsliving with thalassemia,telling us how this
`drug has positively changed their lives."
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`Co-recipient of the award is Dr. Fernando Tricta, a pediatric hematologist who was
`instrumental in the clinical studies for the assessment of the safety andefficacy of
`deferiprone in his pursuit of better treatment options for people with thalassemia.
`Almost 20 yearsafterits first approval, he still reflects on his first experiences with the
`drug. "When| first started treating patients with this drug on a compassionate basis,|
`could not believe the improved qualityoflife it had versus the available treatment at
`the time. Now wehavedeferiprone being recognized by the American Heart
`Associationforits effectiveness in removing excess iron from the heart, which was the
`main causeof death in transfused patients with thalassemia."
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`The Cooley's Anemia Foundationis also honoring Dino Philippou,recipient of the 2017
`Young Leadership Award, an exceptional young man who has becomenot only a
`successful restaurateur butalso an inspiring and untiring philanthropist and activist for
`the Foundation and other causes. Mr. Philippou also happensto be a thalassemia
`patient.
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`http:/Awww.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-scientists-honored-for-role-in-breakthrough-drug-627205651.html
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`8/23/2017
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`According to Mr. Viola, "Dino is a great benefactor and friend of Cooley's Anemia
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`Foundation. The fact that he is also a patient is almost coincidental and we would
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`honor him anyway because of his support for our cause. We are happy to acknowledge
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`him with this award."
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`Dino Philippou says, ""l am so happyto accept this recognition from Cooley's Anemia
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`Foundation because they have been so instrumental in improving the lives of all of us
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`with this disorder."
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`The 2017 Gala Chairman, Frank Fusaro, President, The Forum Group; Chairman,
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`Columbus Citizens Foundation; and Member of the Board of Directors of Cooley's
`Anemia Foundation announced, "Your support of our efforts on behalf of our patients
`and their families is very appreciated. Please join us on June 8* to help us honor these
`deserving individuals and to meet some of the members of our thalassemia family and
`many of us who support them.
`| hope to see you there!"
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`For more information or to arrange an interview with Anthony Viola, Dr. Fernando Tricta
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`or a patient with thalassemia, please contact:
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`Henry Ackermann
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`hackermann@thalassemia.org
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`(212) 279-8090 Ext. 204
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`For further information about the 2017 Cooley's Anemia Foundation Gala and for
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`information about tickets for the June 8eventvisit the Cooley's Anemia Foundation
`website http:/Awww.thalassemia.org or e-mail darlene@suffolkcaf.com.
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`AboutCooley's Anemia Foundation: Since 1954, the mission of Cooley's Anemia
`Foundationis to increase life expectancy and enhancethe quality oflife for those
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`impacted by thalassemia, a class of genetic blood disorders, most of which require
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`http:/Awww.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-scientists-honored-for-role-in-breakthrough-drug-62720565 | .html
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`8/23/2017
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`regular blood transfusions and aggressive managementof chronic iron overload, the
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`predominant cause of early death. We do so by funding medical research to advance
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`treatment and curative approaches, by supporting and advising patients and their
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`families and advocating on their behalf, and by educating medical professionals and
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`the general public. Every day, westrive for longer and healthier lives for all patients
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`with thalassemia until a universal cure is found.
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`About Ferriprox™: Thefirst oral iron chelator used to treat iron overload caused by
`blood transfusions in people with certain hereditary red blood cell disorders
`(thalassemia). Prior to the approval of Ferriprox™, many patients died from cardiac
`failure and other complications from iron overload, as well as the inadequacyof the
`only existing treatment. Patients also suffered a significant burden on their quality of
`life due to the need for a treatment process that required lifelong, daily 8-12 hour
`treatments using an infusion pump to remove excessiron from the body.Ferriprox™
`has been used to treat patients for almost 30 years and wasfirst approved in Europe
`almost 20 years ago.It is now approved in more than 60 countries.
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`Endnotes: Quotes from thought leaders on the occasionof Drs. Spino and Tricta
`receiving this award.
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`“Due to manyscientific and economic issues, deferiprone needed a strong
`commitmentfrom an ‘illuminated and high-spirited’ developer, or it would have
`remained an inaccessible orphan drug. Michael threw his heart into the process,
`brushingasideall the obstacles, and responding to the patients' needs and the request
`of the medical and scientific community.
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`Determined to makethis drug available to our patients, he not only took on its
`economic and research challenges but also accepted a great deal ofItalian
`bureaucracy and regulatory burdens. Fernando strongly contributed to theclinical
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`http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-scientists-honored-for-role-in-breakthrough-drug-62720565 1.html
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`research on deferiprone. He solidified and strengthened collaborations with clinicians
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`and researchers. Remarkably, he always acted as part of the patient community,
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`completely involved in their needs, fears, and hopes!
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`Thanksto this, the Italian population was provided with a new drug which reduced the
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`patients' morbidity and, overall, the cardiac mortality."
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`Prof. Adriana Ceci
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`Gianni Benzi Pharmacological Research Foundation- President
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`CVBF- TEDDYScientific Director
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`“Congratulations to Michael and Fernando, who hadthe vision to recognize the
`potential of deferiprone and the need for properly conductedclinical trials so thatit
`could be licensed. Despite enormous obstacles and the need for major financial
`investment, their vision and tenacity has resulted in Ferriprox™ now being available to
`patients worldwide, including in North America. With deferiprone proven to be the
`best chelating drug for extracting iron from the heart, its widespread availability has
`changedthelives of many."
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`Victor Hoffborand
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`Professor A.V. Hoffbrand
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`Emeritus Professor of Haematology|
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`University College, London
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`SOURCE Cooley's Anemia Foundation
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`Organization Profile
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`amas
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`Ce
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`http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-scientists-honored-for-role-in-breakthrough-drug-62720565 | html
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`Cooley's Anemia Foundation
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`http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-scientists-honored-for-role-in-breakthrough-drug-627205651.html
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`8/23/2017
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