Haemophilia therapies research collaboration

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has entered into a research collaboration with Medivas, with the aim of discovering and developing novel biopharmaceuticals that extend the action duration of recombinant factor treatments for haemophilia. Two haemophilia treatments are produced by Wyeth, Refacto for haemophilia A and BeneFix for haemophilia B. Medivas specializes in improved delivery of biologics, and will use a unique polymer-based drug delivery system to develop advanced delivery methods for recombinant haemophilia products and improve patient convenience through the creation of a longer half-life for the proteins.

The companies hope that their alliance — combining Wyeth's protein-based haemophilia drugs with Medivas's technology — will "offer an alternative to the intravenous administration of these proteins" (Kenneth Carpenter, CEO of Medivas). Haemophilia is a rare, inherited blood clotting disorder, which affects approximately 130000 people worldwide. It is caused by deficiency in one of two proteins, Factor VIII for haemophilia A or Factor IX, causing haemophilia B. These proteins are replaceable through supplements, although the treatments are short-lived and have to be administered through injection.