Chugai Pharmaceutical has announced that Roche has joined the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Humanitarian Aid Program, an initiative leading the effort to change the lack of access to care and treatment for people with inherited bleeding disorders in developing countries.

Chugai, the originator of Hemlibra®, also participated in the program as a member of the Roche Group.

The WFH is an international not-for-profit organization, comprising a global network of patient organizations in 140 countries. The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program aims to improve the lack of access to care and treatment for people with inherited bleeding disorders in developing countries.

The Roche Group's commitment to the WFH Program consists of a donation of Hemlibra, a prophylactic treatment for hemophilia A, and funding to deliver the WFH Program’s integrated care development training to ensure that local infrastructure and medical expertise are available to optimize and appropriately use the donated Hemlibra.

The donation will provide prophylactic treatment with Hemlibra to as many as 1,000 people with hemophilia A in developing countries, over the course of five years, with a focus on high-need patients, such as people of all ages with factor VIII inhibitors and children without factor VIII inhibitors.

Access to prophylactic treatment – the standard of care for hemophilia A to prevent bleeds in most of the developed world – is particularly restricted in developing countries, with limited resources reserved for emergency situations and acute bleeds.

The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program currently provides prophylactic treatment to approximately 1,500 people with hemophilia A.

Tatsuro Kosaka, Chugai’s President & CEO said, “Chugai intends to contribute to tackling social issues through the creation of innovative medical products, and develop along with the society. We are very pleased that Hemlibra, our innovative drug, can play a great role in the global treatment for hemophilia A through the Program by WFH. We will continuously engage in global health by creating shared values with the society through our business activities.”

Approximately 70% of people with hemophilia are estimated not to have been adequately treated across the world. In particular, people with inhibitors and children whose therapeutic options are limited have high unmet medical needs. The Roche Group has determined to participate in the program placing a priority on ensuring access to treatment of hemophilia A in developing countries.