Aventis Behring CEO Urges Patients and Customers to Join Effort to Strengthen the Plasma Protein Industry.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers BRUSSELS, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2003 International Plasma Protein plasma protein n. Any of the various dissolved proteins of blood plasma, including antibodies and blood-clotting proteins, that act by holding fluid in blood vessels by osmosis. Congress 2003 Keynote Address Focuses on Harmonized Regulations and Patient and Customer Involvement In a keynote speech delivered today at the International Plasma Protein Congress 2003, sponsored by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA PPTA (in New Zealand) Post Primary Teachers Association ), Aventis Behring President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Ruedi E. Waeger, Ph.D., addressed the future of the plasma protein industry and the challenges facing the companies that seek to provide safe, high-quality protein therapies in a business environment hampered by conflicting international regulations. "If we are to continue to efficiently produce adequate supplies of life-saving therapies such as immunoglobulins, albumin and hemophilia clotting factors Clotting factors Substances in the blood that act in sequence to stop bleeding by forming a clot. Mentioned in: Partial Thromboplastin Time clotting factors, n. , we need to renew efforts at collaboration between industry, government and the physician-patient community, " said Dr. Waeger as the Chairman of the Global PPTA Board. In his address, entitled "The Future of Plasma Protein Therapies," Dr. Waeger recapped the accomplishments and progress the industry has made in recent years, including dramatic improvements to patient access to care, and significant investments in manufacturing processes designed to ensure the production of the safest, highest-quality products possible. He also emphasized the strong future potential of the industry, noting that the tradition of innovation and technology in the plasma protein industry would inevitably lead to new products, new applications and new technologies that could reach millions of undiagnosed patients or those without access to care. Despite recent progress, he advised the industry to begin addressing significant business challenges stemming from differences in safety and quality regulations for therapeutic proteins in individual countries. Although intended to further the production of safe, high-quality products, these conflicting regulations can actually result in higher costs, delayed production and reduced product output. Additionally, some countries are invoking "self-sufficiency" requirements that restrict the sale of plasma-derived therapies made from source plasma collected from donors outside of the particular country. Dr. Waeger noted that if this trend of self-sufficiency and lack of regulatory harmonization continues unchecked, patients' access to the best possible care would be diminished. In response to these challenges and others, Dr. Waeger emphasized the importance of a "renewed collaborative effort." He outlined the priorities the industry must focus on over the next few years to continue providing adequate amounts of safe, high-quality plasma protein and recombinant therapies. These priorities include: 1. Harmonizing worldwide regulatory requirements so that all plasma-derived and recombinant products are made to a uniform global standard; 2. Educating patients and customers about the financial and regulatory complexities of the plasma protein business; 3. Involving patients and customers more directly in developing industry guidelines and shaping the future of the industry; and 4. Assuring adequate compensation for the unprecedented efforts in quality and safety of products to avoid exit of companies from a low-profitability/high capital investment market. "Lack of regulatory harmonization and the rise of excessively nationalistic self-sufficiency movements could damage our industry, resulting in limited product supply and reduced access to therapies," Dr. Waeger said. "The PPTA should lead the charge to deal with these issues effectively. Industry and government must work globally and collaboratively to establish uniform standards for safety and quality. In working together, we can help our industry realize its enormous potential to reach the millions of patients who have not been diagnosed or do not have access to therapies." About Ruedi E. Waeger, Ph.D. Dr. Ruedi E. Waeger joined Aventis Behring L.L.C. as the Chief Executive Officer in February 1998 and has strengthened Aventis Behring's foundation as a leader in the protein therapeutics industry. He has played a key role in guiding the company as it further refines its product pipeline and extensive manufacturing facilities. Prior to joining Aventis Behring, Dr. Waeger was President and CEO of ZLB ZLB Zero Length Body ZLB Zero Length Bit Central Laboratory of the Swiss Red Cross. ZLB Bioplasma is now part of CSL (Computerese as a Second Language) Said of people who love to speak high-tech words even though they often use them erroneously. See TLA. 1. CSL - Computer Structure Language. A computer hardware description language, written in BCPL. Ltd., one of the world's largest plasma fractionation fractionation /frac·tion·a·tion/ (frak?shun-a´shun) 1. in radiology, division of the total dose of radiation into small doses administered at intervals. 2. companies. About Plasma and Plasma Proteins Plasma is the clear liquid portion of blood that remains after the removal of red blood cells Red blood cells Cells that carry hemoglobin (the molecule that transports oxygen) and help remove wastes from tissues throughout the body. Mentioned in: Bone Marrow Transplantation red blood cells , white blood cells White blood cells A group of several cell types that occur in the bloodstream and are essential for a properly functioning immune system. Mentioned in: Abscess Incision & Drainage, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Complement Deficiencies , and platelets. Plasma proteins are found in plasma and help the human body perform a variety of important functions, including blood clotting blood clotting, process by which the blood coagulates to form solid masses, or clots. In minor injuries, small oval bodies called platelets, or thrombocytes, tend to collect and form plugs in blood vessel openings. , infection fighting, and wound healing wound healing Physiology The repair of a wound Steps Inflammation, repair and closure, remodeling, final healing; repair of incisions may be either simple–'clean' wounds with little loss of tissue heal by 'primary intention', or 'dirty' wounds heal by . Because it contains plasma proteins, plasma is the starting material for a wide range of life-saving medicines, such as the clotting protein used to treat people with hemophilia. About the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) is the primary advocate for the world's leading source plasma collectors and producers of plasma-based and related recombinant biological therapeutics. The medicines produced by PPTA members are used in treating life-threatening diseases and serious medical conditions including bleeding disorders, immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. deficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencies, rabies, tetanus, rh incompatibility Rh incompatibility, n a condition in which two groups of blood cells are antigentically different because of the presence of Rh factor in one group and the absence of the Rh factor in the other. See also Rh factor. , burns and shock. About Aventis Behring Aventis Behring, part of the Aventis family of companies, is a global leader in the plasma protein industry, providing a wide range of innovative and high-quality medicines to patients worldwide. Aventis Behring is dedicated to research and development in the area of human blood plasma blood plasma n. The yellow or gray-yellow, protein-containing fluid portion of blood in which the blood cells and platelets are normally suspended. as well as in emerging technologies. For more information about Aventis Behring, please visit our web site at www.AventisBehring.com. Aventis (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AVE) is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovering and developing innovative prescription drugs and human vaccines. In 2002, Aventis generated sales of EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 17.6 billion, invested EUR 3.1 billion in research and development and employed approximately 71,000 people in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information, please visit: www.aventis.com Statements in this news release other than historical information are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially depending on factors such as the availability of resources, the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the strength of competition, the outcome of litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. and the effectiveness of patent protection. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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