Novartis Partners with China Red Cross Foundation to Launch Thalassemia Assistance Program for Underprivileged Children in China

ShanghaiFebruary 16, 2023PR Newswire -- Recently,Novartis China Announces the Official Launch of the "China Thalassemia Assistance Project" Special Aid for Guangxi Region with the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, will provide targeted funding for children with thalassemia from disadvantaged families locally, while enhancing societal attention and support for the living conditions of thalassemia patients through relevant physician training and public education. This initiative aims to promote early diagnosis and treatment, achieving "medical care for all," and jointly advancing "Healthy China."

"China Thalassemia Assistance Program" was jointly initiated by the China Red Cross Foundation and Novartis China, with Novartis providing financial donations to assist children from impoverished families in high-prevalence thalassemia areas such as Guangxi. The program also aims to enhance early screening and effectively control the number of new cases by strengthening physicians' diagnostic capabilities and conducting public education campaigns to reinforce preventive measures.

Thalassemia (also known as Mediterranean anemia) is a hereditary hemolytic disease. There are approximately 300,000 thalassemia patients in China, with over 30 million people carrying the gene. Guangxi is a high-incidence area for thalassemia, where the carrier rate of the thalassemia gene in the population is as high as 20%, far exceeding other provinces. Patients with severe thalassemia require lifelong blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy. Currently, the only effective cure for thalassemia is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but challenges such as limited donor availability, long waiting times, and high costs impose a heavy burden on families and society. Both domestically and internationally, there is active exploration into new opportunities for gene therapy.

Professor Lai Yongrong, Director of the Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University"A family with a thalassemia patient must expend unimaginable effort and treatment costs to persist with the treatment. Many children from impoverished families miss the treatment window and pass away during early childhood due to the inability to afford treatment, plunging the entire family into deep suffering. As clinicians, we are very gratified to be able to partner with enterprises and harness societal resources to offer more children with thalassemia the chance for a new life."

In 2021, Novartis China signed a three-year public welfare strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Chinese Red Cross Society for the "Universal Health Promotion Project". The project focuses on improving diagnostic and treatment standards and capacity building in the fields of cardiovascular diseases, rheumatological immune diseases, and rare diseases in relevant regions, helping to improve public health levels and contributing to the implementation of the "Healthy China 2030" strategy. The "China Thalassemia Assistance Project" falls under the rare disease assistance category of this program.

President of Novartis Group (China), Daniel Brändle (Dan Brindle）"Noting that 'Novartis has a 137-year history with China, and over the years, Novartis has been committed to building and deepening trust with Chinese society. In addition to accelerating the introduction of innovative drugs in collaboration with all parties, we also support the progress and development of Chinese society through various corporate social responsibility projects. The ‘Thalassemia Assistance Project,’ jointly initiated by Novartis and the China Red Cross Foundation, is part of this effort. In the future, by strengthening cooperation with all parties, we will bring hope to more patients and improve the overall health level of society.'"

As a global leading pharmaceuticals and health company, Novartis has over 250 years of innovation history. Since 1987, Novartis has had nearly 100 innovative drugs approved in China, ranking among the top multinational pharmaceutical companies. Focusing on disease areas with unmet medical needs, in recent years Novartis has continuously accelerated the introduction and launch of innovative drugs, planning to submit 50 new drug and new indication registration applications in China within five years. Novartis is striving to comprehensively integrate key issues related to Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) into all operational aspects of the company, hoping to create long-term value for all stakeholders.