PNH Patients Treated with Soliris(TM) Experienced Dramatic Reduction in Blood Clots During Clini...( Analysis published in the journal ...)

Analysis published in the journal Blood found 92 percent reduction in

incidence of thromboses

CHESHIRE, Conn., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Patients with a rare blood disorder called PNH experienced a 92 percent reduction in the incidence of life-threatening blood clots (thromboses) following treatment with Soliris(TM) (eculizumab), according to an analysis of clinical studies recently published online in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.

Soliris, developed by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN), is the first therapy approved for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare, debilitating and life-threatening blood disorder defined by the destruction of red blood cells, or hemolysis. In patients with PNH, hemolysis can cause severe anemia, disabling fatigue, recurrent pain, shortness of breath, pulmonary hypertension, intermittent episodes of dark colored urine (hemoglobinuria), kidney disease, impaired quality of life and thromboses. (1,2)

"Thrombosis is the leading cause of premature death in PNH patients and the most feared complication of PNH," said Dr. Peter Hillmen, senior author of the paper and Consultant Haematologist of the General Infirmary at Leeds, Leeds, UK. "In several clinical trials, Soliris reduced hemolysis in all PNH patients and significantly improved anemia, fatigue and quality of life. The comprehensive analyses demonstrate that Soliris substantially reduced the risk of thrombosis in a diverse population of PNH patients, including those who might be expected to have less severe disease."

Approximately 40 percent of patients with PNH experience thrombosis during the course of the disease.(3,4,5,6) An ini
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SOURCE Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Copyright©2007 PR Newswire.

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