Roche funds a new international foundation for anemia research

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 17 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Roche announced today the establishment of the Roche Foundation for Anemia Research (RoFAR). This major new charitable organisation aims to encourage innovative research which will open new avenues of exploration in the area of anemia.

The Foundation is legally independent from Roche and is guided by a Board of Trustees in line with its charter. The Foundation is funded through donations by Roche, with an initial sum of 16 million Swiss Francs over the first four years.

William M Burns, Head of Roche's Pharmaceuticals Division said: "We are committed to improve outcomes for anemia patients. This cannot be addressed by the pharmaceutical industry alone, but needs the collaboration of academia and practising physicians. Roche currently markets NeoRecormon, the leading anemia therapy in Europe and is developing CERA, the first Continuous Erythopoiesis Receptor Activator for global commercialisation."

"RoFAR will stimulate new research in anemia. Anemia can be a serious complication for many renal and oncology patients and I hope that physicians and researchers around the world will seize the opportunity that RoFAR offers to become involved in research that will help to improve our understanding of this debilitating condition." commented Dr Nathan Levin, Chairman of the RoFAR board of trustees, Medical & Research Director Renal Research Institute, New York, USA.

Established members of academic staff at universities, dialysis centers and research institutes, are invited to apply to RoFAR for funding. New research in areas associated with the study of anemia related to kidney disease and oncology; anemia of chronic disease; anemia related to congestive heart failure and stroke and the effects of erythropoetic drugs on endothelium and brain will be considered.

The first round of awards will be announced at the end of 2004, at the American Society of Haematology Meeting (ASH 3rd - 7th December), San Diego, USA.

About anemia

Anemia occurs when erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells, is disturbed. Diseases of the kidney often result in impaired production of erythropoietin leading to anemia. Anemia in cancer patients may be related to the disease itself or the effect of concomitant chemotherapy.

In the field of anemia therapy Roche markets NeoRecormon (epoetin beta) for patients with kidney disease and cancer. Roche is developing the first Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator (CERA) for global commercialisation in renal and cancer related anemia.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and R&D agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.

Further information:
- About the foundation: www.rofar.org