Hemophilia Foundation Gives Bayer A Headache.

The National Hemophilia Foundation cut off its long-time relationship with Bayer Corporation, handing it back a check for $39,750, showing its strong opposition to the company's new program of making a critical medication available only to patients through a direct application program.

That amount was for all funding NHF had received from Bayer in 2000 up to the fall, before its annual conference in November. Bayer, which usually would be among the conference's top sponsors, was also asked not to attend and was not a sponsor this year. Bayer was among NHF's "platinum sponsors," though Jodie Corngold, director of communications for NHF, said it was not the largest corporate donor.

Many of NHF's chapters signed onto a joint declaration of support against accepting money from Bayer, though Corngold said NHF didn't expect all chapters to go against the corporation. "We have no control over what our chapters do," she said." Many have also given back money," though she didn't have a grand total based on the field and the national office's decisions.

The drug Kogenate FS is the next generation blood-clotting factor that helps hemophiliacs survive. The drug can cost upwards of $150,000 annually, according to NHF. Moreover, it is already in short supply. Corngold said NHF cried foul after Bayer went ahead with its decision to make the drug available only to those whose applications (and insurance approvals) were received and approved first.

Not only did the organization hand Bayer back a sizable check and discourage its attendance at the Anaheim conference, but has also stopped its scientific relationships. Bayer's name wasn't even included on supplemetal posters that come with NHF's magazine for members. "Every relationship (was ended)," Corngold said.

Bayer has since refined its program, enabling hemophiliac treatment centers and hospitals and home healthcare companies to purchase Kogenate FS from Bayer without requiring patients to be enrolled.

A letter from Terry Tenbrusel, the vice president of sales and marketing for Bayer's biological products area, stated that because hospitals and hemophilia treatment centers will now have access to Kogenate FS, "product will be available for emergency use. Patients enrolled in Bayer Direct will continue to have access to the emergency supply program."

NHF described the drug as a "state of the art recombinant factor VIII product." Aventis Behring issues its version of Kogenate FS under the name Helixate FS, but it is the same product and manufactured by Bayer.

Corngold said that the loss of Bayer's funding would cause the organization to tighten its financial belt a bit, though it will not mean lost jobs. "We've been very pleased to see some of the other members of industry step up to the plate," she said.