•Physicians explore new results on liver, endocrine and heart complications in haemoglobin blood disorder patients

•Summit hosted in Oman gathers leading thalassemia and sickle cell experts

Muscat, Oman. February 21st 2015: The incidence of haemoglobin blood disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD), in addition to rising liver and endocrine complications have been key focus areas at the biennial Gulf Iron Summit taking place this weekend in Muscat, Oman.

The biennial Gulf Iron Summit, a Novartis initiative, attracts key practitioners and experts in thalassemia and SCD, showcasing the latest research and treatments for managing blood diseases. Patients with thalassemia produce less haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. As a result, they can suffer from anaemia, iron overload, bone deformities, liver disease and cardiovascular illnesses. The summit aims to act as a knowledge-sharing platform for best practices to manage haemoglobin blood diseases and its complications.

Most importantly, this years focus was the care of patients suffering from iron overload, a common secondary disease among transfusion dependent patients[*]. The summit explored different areas of managing thalassemia and SCD such as novel approaches to chelation therapy, the role of the liver in iron overload and its management, and the transition from childhood to adulthood when suffering from iron overload.

Dr Zahia Al Raisi said: "The complications of these diseases are severe and there is a need to support patients in treating debilitating health complications such as iron overload that can affect vital organs such as the liver and the heart, and can result in vascular and endocrine complications."

"We continue to identify strategies to leverage and maximize the value of iron overload treatments by enhancing and broadening the application of chelation therapy to reverse iron-overload that contributes to endocrine dysfunction and heart failure" stated Dr Shahina Daar, Associate Professor of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University . "Iron overload treatment has matured over the past years resulting in improved quality of life for our patients. However we still have a high incidence of endocrine complications, particularly diabetes, in Middle East patients, and there is an urgent need to manage iron overload effectively."

Haemoglobin disorders are inherited blood diseases that affect red blood cell production, causing anaemia. Thalassemia and SCD affect blood oxygen levels and can lead to shortened lifespan and serious complications including chronic iron overload in patients receiving blood transfusions to maintain adequate supply of haemoglobin[†]. Thalassaemias are most common in Asia, the Mediterranean basin, and the Middle East.[‡] Cardiac iron overload was common in patients with hemoglobin blood diseases; however recent studies show that the proportion of thalassemia patients with cardiac iron overload has decreased 37% in a decade[§] while the number of liver disorders has increased during the same period[**].

Blood disorders occur at a variable frequency in the Middle East countries[††] with patients needing regular blood transfusions and iron chelation treatments to manage this disease. Dr Ali Al Medhani, Director of Sohar Hospital, Oman said: "Exjade, an efficient treatment for the management of iron overload is now reaching most thalassemia patients in Oman helping to remove excess iron from key organs, and ease the discomfort and pain from other treatments. Exjade helps prevents life-threatening complications that result of excess iron being stored in organs, such as the liver which might lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, the endocrine organs and the heart. With Exjade physicians can offer patients a treatment option helping fulfil a critical unmet need."

In addition to new treatment approaches and research, new categories of the Sultan Bin Khalifa International Thalassemia Award which recognizes the efforts and continuing improvement to the quality of life of Thalassemia patients, was announced at the Gulf Iron Summit.  Practitioners can now be nominated for the International or Arab Awards which recognize significant contribution in the following categories: Scientific achievement, community services, inspiring patients, extraordinary parent, applied research in thalassemia, best research publication, awareness project and research project.

-Ends-

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and over-the-counter products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2014, the Group achieved net sales of USD 58 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 130,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis.

References

1-     http://www.novartis.ca/en/disease_conditions/E-M/Iron_Overload.shtml
2-     Darbari DS, Kple-Faget P, Kwagyan J, et al. Circumstances of death in adult sickle cell disease
patients. Am J Haemotol. 2006 (81) : 858-63.
3-     http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs308/en/
4-     Thomas AS, et al. Blood. 2010 116 abstract  1011.
5-     Voskaridou E, et al. Ann Hematol. 2012 ; 91: 1451-8.
6-      Sickle cell disease in Middle East Arab countries. El Hazmi MA, Warsy AS. Indian J Med Res. 2011. 134(5).97-610

Novartis Media Relations
Diana Estupinan
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Diana.Estupinan@hkstrategies.com
+9714 334 4930
+ 971 (0) 56 175 0590
http://www.novartis.ca/en/disease_conditions/E-M/Iron_Overload.shtml

© Press Release 2015