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Common But Widely Undiagnosed Bleeding Disorder Can Lead to Serious Health Complications

NEW YORK, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) welcomes and applauds the issuance of the first clinical guidelines in the United States for the diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common hereditary bleeding disorder, by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The guidelines, developed in consultation with the American Society of Hematology by a panel of multi-disciplinary medical experts and released on February 29, include recommendations on screening, diagnosis, disease management and opportunities for future research.

"Because it is under-recognized and difficult to diagnose, many people with VWD may not realize they have it, which is why the National Hemophilia Foundation has long focused efforts on educating the public and health professionals about this serious and potentially life-threatening disease," said Howard A. Balsam, interim chief executive officer of the NHF. "We are pleased that the NHLBI guidelines will help to elevate public awareness of this important health issue and provide the medical community with evidence-based direction on how to detect and manage VWD."

NHF provides resources on bleeding and clotting disorders to the general public through HANDI, their resource center and library of over 13,000 materials. Information specialists are available through telephone, e-mail and fax to answer questions, refer individuals to a hemophilia treatment center in their local area and provide articles, brochures and news releases regarding bleeding and clotting disorders. The library contains an extensive amount of resources particularly on von Willebrand disease and the effects of this disease and other bleeding disorders on women. Contact HANDI at 800-42-HANDI, handi@hemophilia.org or through fax at 212-328-3799.

About von Willebrand Disease

Von Willebrand disease is caused by a deficiency or abnormality of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein in the blood that is necessary for normal blood clotting. VWD is classified by types, ranging from Type 1 (the most common and usually mild) to Type 3 (the most severe). Patients with Type 2 VWD have VWF that does not work properly, while patients with Type 1 or Type 3 do not have enough VWF to produce a normal clot. Women with VWD are more likely to experience heavy, prolonged menstruation. Other common symptoms of VWD include frequent nosebleeds and easy bruising. Bleeding can be mild or serious and can occur as a result of injury, or without any obvious cause. More serious symptoms include bleeding into joints and internal organs. The VWD patient may require special care during dental procedures, surgery and childbirth.

NHF, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with an educational grant from CSL Behring, has developed Project Red Flag, a national public awareness campaign to educate women and their healthcare providers about the symptoms of bleeding disorders, especially VWD, and encourage proper diagnosis and treatment. Not only was CSL Behring part of the efforts to develop the guidelines, but has been working with state bleeding disorder organizations to advocate for legislation encouraging greater screening of VWD in cases of menorrhagia. Already introduced in the Pennsylvania and Minnesota state legislatures, efforts for similar legislation are currently underway in California.

According to available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), VWD affects 1 to 2 percent of Americans -- as many as 2.8 million people, more than half of whom are women. Women may suffer severe health consequences if their condition is not correctly diagnosed and are at greater risk for miscarriage, for life-threatening bleeding following surgery or childbirth and for undergoing unnecessary hysterectomies. Studies conducted by the CDC show that every year 30,000 women undergo hysterectomy for the diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding. Many of these women have an undiagnosed bleeding disorder that could be managed medically rather than surgically. According to the CDC it takes a woman, on average, 16 years to get a diagnosis for VWD.

"The NHF has long collaborated with other organizations and industry to help local chapters, partner associations, hemophilia treatment centers and consumers raise awareness of VWD in their local communities," said Barbara A. Konkle, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Director, Penn Comprehensive Hemophilia and Thrombosis Program, and Chair, NHF Women with Bleeding Disorders Task Force. "We're pleased to see the Institute affirm the importance of VWD, and the need for professional guidance and consumer education around this disorder."

Screening and Treatment

The NHLBI guidelines recommend that physicians take a complete medical history and physical examination, and order a sequence of blood tests to evaluate individuals whose history suggests VWD or any bleeding disorder.

According to the guidelines, treatment for VWD depends on its type and severity. Medicines may be prescribed to increase the release of von Willebrand factor into the bloodstream (desmopressin, administered either intravenously or through a nasal spray like Stimate(R)), replace von Willebrand factor (Humate-P(R) or Alphanate SD-HT(R)), prevent the breakdown of clots (antifibrinolytics) or to control heavy menstrual bleeding in women (oral contraceptives).

For more information on the NHLBI guidelines go to http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/vwd/index.htm . For more information on VWD, you can visit the Project Red Flag web site at www.projectredflag.org or call the National Hemophilia Foundation's Information Resource Center at 1-800-42-HANDI (email to handi@hemophilia.org). Trained staff members are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT to answer your requests.

About the National Hemophilia Foundation

The National Hemophilia Foundation is dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for bleeding and clotting disorders and to preventing the complications of these disorders through education, advocacy and research.

Established in 1948, the National Hemophilia Foundation is a non profit 501(c)3 organization with chapters throughout the country. Its programs and initiatives are made possible through the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations as well as through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For more information about the National Hemophilia Foundation visit www.hemophilia.org.

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a global leader in the plasma protein biotherapeutics industry. Passionate about improving the quality of patients' lives, CSL Behring manufactures and markets a range of safe and effective plasma-derived and recombinant products and related services. The company's therapies are used in the treatment of immune deficiency disorders, hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, other bleeding disorders and inherited emphysema. Products include Humate-P(R) Antihemophilic Factor/von Willebrand Factor Complex (Human) Dried, Pasteurized, for the treatment of von Willebrand disease, Stimate(R) Nasal Spray, a desmopression acetate for the treatment of mild hemophilia A or mild to moderate type 1 von Willebrand disease, and Helixate(R) FS a recombinant factor VIII treatment for hemophilia A. Other products are used for the prevention of hemolytic diseases in the newborn, in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation and in the treatment of burns. The company also operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, ZLB Plasma. CSL Behring is a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit www.cslbehring-us.com.

Contact:
Laura de Zutter
MCS Public Relations for NHF
1-800-477-9626

Source: National Hemophilia Foundation

CONTACT: Laura de Zutter of MCS Public Relations for NHF,
+1-800-477-9626

Web site: http://www.hemophilia.org/
http://www.cslbehring-us.com/
http://www.projectredflag.org/
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/vwd/index.htm

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Profile: Transplant News

NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (NASDAQ:VION) today announced that it would hold a conference call on Thursday, May 8, 2008 to discuss its 2008 first quarter financial results. The call will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

To participate in the conference call, please dial (866) 203-3436 in the U.S. ((617) 213-8849 for international callers) at least 15 minutes before the start of the call. When prompted for a pass code, please enter 65563316.

An audio webcast of the call will be accessible at www.vionpharm.com. Those who wish to listen to the conference call on the Web should visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at least 15 minutes prior to the event broadcast, and follow the instructions provided to assure that the necessary audio applications are downloaded and installed. These programs can be obtained at no charge to the user.

A replay of the call will be available two hours after the completion of the call at (888) 286-8010 in the U.S., ((617) 801-6888 for international callers), pass code 62870894. The replay will be available through Thursday, May 22, 2008.

Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is committed to extending the lives and improving the quality of life of cancer patients worldwide by developing and commercializing innovative cancer therapeutics. Vion has two agents in clinical trials. Cloretazine(R) (VNP40101M), a unique alkylating agent, is being evaluated in a pivotal Phase II trial as a single agent in elderly patients with de novo poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. Clinical trials of Cloretazine(R) (VNP40101M) with temozolomide in brain tumors, and with stem cell transplantation in advanced hematologic malignancies, are also being conducted. Triapine(R), a potent inhibitor of a key step in DNA synthesis, is being evaluated in clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. For additional information on Vion and its product development programs, visit the Company's Internet web site at www.vionpharm.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risk factors which may cause Vion's plans to differ or results to vary from those expected, including Vion's potential inability to obtain regulatory approval for its products, particularly Cloretazine(R) (VNP40101M), delayed or unfavorable results of drug trials, the possibility that favorable results of earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials are not predictive of safety and efficacy results in later clinical trials, the need for additional research and testing, the potential inability to secure external sources of funding to continue operations, the inability to access capital and funding on favorable terms, continued operating losses and the inability to continue operations as a result, and a variety of other risks set forth from time to time in Vion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risks attendant to the forward-looking statements included under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in Vion's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. In particular, there can be no assurance as to the results of any of Vion's clinical trials, that any of these trials will continue to full accrual, or that any of these trials will not be discontinued, modified, delayed or ceased altogether. Except in special circumstances in which a duty to update arises under law when prior disclosure becomes materially misleading in light of subsequent events, Vion does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Company Contact: Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alan Kessman, Chief Executive Officer
Howard B. Johnson, President & CFO
(203) 498-4210

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT: Alan Kessman, Chief Executive Officer, or Howard B. Johnson,
President & CFO, both, +1-203-498-4210, of Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Web site:

http://www.vionpharm.com/

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Profile: Transplant News

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- MacroGenics Inc, a private biotechnology company focused on the development of products to treat autoimmune disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases, today announced the appointments of Dr. Jean-Christophe Tellier as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and Mr. James Karrels as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "We are very fortunate to attract two exceptionally talented professionals to the executive management team at MacroGenics," said Dr. Scott Koenig, President and CEO. "Both Jean-Christophe and Jim exhibit personal qualities and experiences that are among the best in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and they will complement the skills of our already extraordinary management group, as we position our company for growth and advance our pipeline towards commercialization."

Dr. Tellier joins MacroGenics after a distinguished 20 year career in commercial development at Novartis. Since February 2007, he served as Chairman and CEO of Novartis Pharma France and Novartis Group France. The Group comprises 2,800 employees with sales at Novartis Pharma France of about €1 billion, including marketed brand name products in cardiovascular, oncology, neurosciences, respiratory, dermatology, transplant/immunology, infectious diseases, and ophthalmology. Prior to this, Dr. Tellier was Head of the Global Business Franchise for Arthritis, Bone, and Muscle Disease headquartered in Basel. From January 2003 through September 2006, Dr. Tellier served as CEO of Novartis Pharma Belgium and Country President where he was responsible for all business units and support services and coordination of all product sectors including OTC, generics, and Ciba Vision. During this tenure, he became President of the Board of the Belgian Pharma Trade association (Pharma.be), the first non-Belgium citizen to be elected to this position. Dr. Tellier received his MD from the University of Reims Champagne- Ardenne and a post-graduate degree in rheumatology from the University of Paris V. In addition, he completed executive business programs at Harvard and INSEAD.

"Jean-Christophe's depth and breadth of international business experiences in leadership positions at Novartis and in the pharmaceutical industry add a new dimension to our organization," stated Dr. Koenig. "As a trained rheumatologist and expert in drug development and marketing, Dr. Tellier brings an unusual combination of skills to MacroGenics that will enhance our ability to advance the lead product in autoimmunity to the marketplace."

Mr. James Karrels brings a wealth of financial and analytical experience to MacroGenics. He has been at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since 2005, most recently serving as Executive Director of Finance. While at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, he was responsible for the company's financial planning and analysis and investor relations activities. He began his career as an analyst at Merrill Lynch & Co. in 1989 and advanced to the position of Director in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group. During his tenure there, he participated in more than 30 sole or lead-managed transactions, representing over $25 billion in aggregate transaction value. His activities included the marketing, structuring, and execution of IPOs, equity and convertible debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and other transactions. Mr. Karrels holds an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

"Jim joins us at an important juncture of the company's development. His combined experience in operations, finance and investment banking are especially important as we plan and execute on the growth of our business and advance to become a publicly-traded company," stated Dr. Koenig.

About MacroGenics, Inc.

Founded in 2000, MacroGenics is a private, venture-backed biotechnology company headquartered in Rockville, Maryland that focuses on the development, manufacture and commercialization of immunotherapeutics for autoimmune disorders, cancer and infectious diseases. In October 2007, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) and MacroGenics, Inc. announced a global strategic alliance to develop and commercialize teplizumab, a humanized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, as well as other potential next generation anti-CD3 molecules for use in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Teplizumab is currently being studied in the PROTÉGÉ trial, a global pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial for individuals with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. The company's proprietary DART (Dual Affinity Re-Targeting) and Fc engineering technologies offer ways to improve the function of antibodies and similar molecules. For more information about MacroGenics, please visit http://www.macrogenics.com/.

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward- looking statement. Specifically, there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, such as the Company's ability to raise additional capital, and risks related to the Company's ability to initiate, and enroll patients in, planned clinical trials. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by law.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: MacroGenics Inc

CONTACT: Valerie Austin of MacroGenics, Inc., +1-301-354-2688,
austinv@macrogenics.com

Web site:

http://www.macrogenics.com/

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Profile: Transplant News