ISTH Launches Global Educational Initiative on Gene Therapy for Hemophilia

MELBOURNE, Australia, July 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)Xinran Announces Official LaunchGene Therapy in Hemophilia: An ISTH Education Initiative. This landmark initiative, the first of its kind for hemophilia, will be launched at the 27th Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), to be held in Melbourne, Australia, from July 6 to 10, 2019.

As gene therapy emerges as a potential new treatment for patients with hemophilia, the ISTH recognizes an urgent need for education and training of clinicians, scientists, and other interested healthcare professionals within the global hemophilia care community. In early 2019, the ISTH established the ISTH Gene Therapy for Hemophilia Steering Committee, composed of world-renowned experts and led by Dr. Flora Peyvandi and Dr. David Lillicrap, to survey the global hemophilia care community and identify unmet educational needs in the field of hemophilia gene therapy.

The ISTH Hemophilia Gene Therapy Steering Committee leveraged survey findings, in conjunction with other expert opinions, to design a dynamic educational roadmap to guide the development of gene therapy education programs. The initial phase aims to raise awareness and enable clinicians and scientists to better understand the fundamental principles of gene therapy, treatment modalities, research and clinical trials, safety and efficacy, patient identification for potential benefit, and the implications of this novel therapeutic approach compared with other emerging treatments for hemophilia.

The survey findings will be presented at a poster session in Melbourne on July 7, under the title “Gene Therapy Knowledge and Perceptions: Results of an International ISTH Survey.” A detailed roadmap for gene therapy education will be showcased during the Product Theater Sessions at 12:15 PM on July 7.

Claire McLintock, MD, President of the ISTH, stated, “The launch of this roadmap in Melbourne represents an exciting opportunity to initiate this global education initiative. This is a crucial first step in educating clinicians and researchers about the science and potential role of gene therapy for patients with hemophilia. The leadership of the Steering Committee and feedback from the broader thrombosis and hemostasis community have enabled us to understand current needs and create meaningful gene therapy education for the global hemophilia community.”

Flora Peyvandi, MD, Co-Chair of the ISTH Hemophilia Gene Therapy Steering Committee, stated, “As the therapeutic landscape for hemophilia evolves rapidly, clinicians worldwide face the challenge of keeping pace with the latest scientific developments and clinical advances. Establishing state-of-the-art clinical practice guidelines and educational programs is essential to ensuring optimal patient care.”

Gene Therapy for Hemophilia: The ISTH educational program is supported by educational grants from BioMarin, Pfizer, Inc., Shire, Spark Therapeutics, and uniQure, Inc. For more information, please visithttps://genetherapy.isth.org/。